17-6-31
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17-6-31.
(a)
When the court is not in session, a surety on a bond may surrender the
surety´s principal to the sheriff or to the responsible law enforcement
officer of the jurisdiction in which the case is pending in order to be released
from liability.
(b)
When the court is in session, a surety on a bond may surrender the surety´s
principal in open court.
(c)
The principal shall also be considered surrendered by plea of guilty or nolo
contendere to the court or if the principal is present in person when the jury
or judge, if tried without a jury, finds the principal guilty or if the judge
dead dockets the case prior to entry of judgment and, upon such plea or finding
of guilty or dead docketing, the surety shall be released from liability.
(d)(1)
Furthermore, the surety shall be released from liability if, prior to entry of
judgment, there is:
(A)
A deferred sentence;
(B)
A presentence investigation;
(C)
A court ordered pretrial intervention program;
(D)
A court ordered educational and rehabilitation program;
(E)
A fine;
(F)
A dead docket; or
(G)
Death of the principal.
(2)
Furthermore, the surety may be released from liability at the discretion of the
court if:
(A)
The principal used a false name when he or she was bound over and committed to
jail or a correctional institution and was subsequently released from such
facility unless the surety knew or should have known that the principal used a
false name; and
(B)
The surety shows to the satisfaction of the court that he or she acted with due
diligence and used all practical means to secure the attendance of the principal
before the court.
(e)
If the prosecuting attorney does not try the charges against a defendant within
a period of two years in the case of felonies and one year in the case of
misdemeanors after the date of posting bond, then judgment rendered after such
period may not be enforced against the surety on the bond and the surety shall
thereafter be relieved of liability on the bond. This subsection shall not apply
where the prosecuting attorney´s failure to try the charges is due to the
fault of the principal.
(f)
No judgment shall be rendered on any appearance bond if it is shown to the
satisfaction of the court that the surety was prevented from returning the
principal to the jurisdiction because such principal was on active military
duty.