Consecuencias por no testificar en juicios en Virginia

Explicación Simple

Si alguien es llamado a testificar en un juicio y no va sin una buena razón, puede enfrentarse a castigos. Esto es similar a no hacer la tarea en la escuela y recibir una evaluación negativa.

Es como cuando te invitan a una fiesta y no asistes; si no das una buena razón, tus amigos pueden enojarse contigo.

Ejemplo Práctico

Imagina que Juan vive en Maryland y recibe una citación para testificar en un juicio en Virginia. Si no asiste sin justificación, podría enfrentar una multa o algún tipo de penalidad. Además, si Juan va a Virginia para testificar, no podrá ser arrestado por problemas legales anteriores mientras esté allí por esa razón.

Penalidades

Si no asistes sin buena razón, puedes ser castigado como cualquier testigo que ignora una citación judicial.

Texto Original del Estatuto (Inglés)

Va. Code § 19.2-279 - Penalty for failure of such witnesses to testify. If such witness, after coming into this Commonwealth, fails without good cause to attend and testify as directed in the summons, he shall be punished in the manner provided for the punishment of any witness who disobeys a summons issued from a court of record in this Commonwealth. Code 1950, § 19.1-276; 1960, c. 366; 1975, c. 495. Va. Code § 19.2-280 - Exemption of such witnesses from arrest or service of process. If a person comes into this Commonwealth in obedience to a summons directing him to attend and testify in this Commonwealth he shall not while in this Commonwealth pursuant to such summons be subject to arrest or the service of process, civil or criminal, in connection with matters which arose before his entrance into this Commonwealth under the summons. If a person passes through this Commonwealth while going to another state in obedience to a summons to attend and testify in that state or while returning therefrom, he shall not while so passing through this Commonwealth be subject to arrest or the service of process, civil or criminal, in connection with matters which arose before his entrance into this Commonwealth under the summons. Code 1950, § 19.1-277; 1960, c. 366; 1975, c. 495. Va. Code § 19.2-281 - Construction of article. This article shall be so interpreted and construed as to effectuate its general purpose to make uniform the law of the states which enact it. Code 1950, § 19.1-278; 1960, c. 366; 1975, c. 495. Va. Code § 19.2-282 - How article cited. This article may be cited as the "Uniform Act to Secure the Attendance of Witnesses from without a State in Criminal Proceedings." Code 1950, § 19.1-279; 1960, c. 366; 1975, c. 495.