Polk County, MN (trfnews.i234.me)—On January 1, 2025, authorities charged Craig Joseph Burnette, born December 15, 1981, with a felony for failing to appear in court as required, in violation of Minnesota Statute 609.49.1. This statute addresses situations where individuals charged with or convicted of a felony, who have been released from custody, intentionally fail to appear in court after being notified that such failure constitutes a criminal offense.
Under Minnesota law, if a person charged with or convicted of a felony intentionally fails to appear in court as required, they are guilty of a crime for failure to appear. The penalty for this offense can be up to one-half of the maximum term of imprisonment or fine, or both, prescribed for the underlying crime for which the person failed to appear. However, the minimum sentence for this offense is at least one year and one day of imprisonment or a fine of $1,500, or both.
Failure to appear charges are taken seriously in Minnesota, as they undermine the judicial process. Individuals released from custody are typically informed of their obligation to appear in court and the consequences of failing to do so. Intentional non-appearance can lead to additional charges and penalties beyond those associated with the original offense.
As of now, no further details about the circumstances leading to Mr. Burnette’s failure to appear have been released. The case will proceed through the legal system in accordance with Minnesota state law.
I’m Chris Harper, reporting for trfnews.i234.me