Legal Question in Criminal Law in Ohio

Re: felony charge 4

The complaining party can testify to anything that is truthful. If the truth is that the complaining party did authorize the use of the credit card and did write the checks, then that information would lead most prosecutors to dismiss the charges.

On the other hand, if the truth is that the defendant did use the credit card and write the checks without authority, and the complaining party is now changing his/her story simply to help out the defendant, most prosecutors will not respond favorably.

If the victim simply says "I won't testify" then some prosecutors will issue a subpoena. If the victim fails to respond to the subpoena, then the victim gets arrested and charged with contempt of court. This is not the answer.

The defendant can always repay the victim, but that repayment can sometimes be used by the prosecutor as evidence of guilt. YOu attorney can help you avoid this problem if this is the route you want to take.

This is too serious a matter to try to handle without an attorney. With one count of F-4 misuse of a credit card you are facing as much as 18 months in prison. Why would you risk that without an attorney? Its like trying to remove your own appendix -- you can do it, but it does not make any sense.