Reported a Robbery at Work, Now I'm a Suspect

[gulfguy]

Nebraska

A few months ago, I was working at a bar. I was alone and doing my cleaning, and someone came in and robbed me.
I gave my statement (to the sheriffs that came out). The next day, the police chief in the small little town got another statement from me. A few days later, he gave me paperwork asking for another statement.

Well, I lost my job because I lost my license for something before that, and I got pulled over and ticketed for driving with a suspended license.

Not able to pay rent, etc., I borrowed money from my family to move down south to stay with family while I got back on my feet again.
The chief called me up to say that I had to come back in to talk to him because there was a "discrepancy" in the paperwork I filled out. I told him that I had no time or means of traveling 1,200 miles to talk to him simply because he couldn't find the robber.

Weeks go by, and now I'm getting a call from an investegator with the Nebraska Department of Revenue (presumably because one of the registers that was robbed was for Keno - a gambling game in Nebraska). He wants to know if I'm willing to go up there and take a polygraph. I told him that I wasn't - I'm busy with work and couldn't even afford to, and that I'm starting to feel harassed by the regular calls from the chief and him.

He asked me for another statement, I told him to read the police report. He bluntly asked me, "So, were you really robbed?" I told him of course I was!

So, what should I expect now? I live on the gulf now. I'm working, and trying to get into college. If I have to get up there, I'm going to lose my job, which means my brother won't let me stay here any longer, etc. Plus, a buddy of mine told me that they can hold me for up to 6 months without a trial - which sounds freaky and horrible.

Is this something they'd put a warrant out for me on? Would they come and arrest me? If so, what should I do? I can't afford a laywer. I just want this crap to be over with. I don't like feeling threatened, and I certainly don't like the implications that my freedom may be stripped away.

It feels like a small town cop with nothing better to do is just trying to find someone to pin this on.

Any/all advice is appreciated.

Oh, I've also heard that refusal to take a polygraph cannot be held against me in court, or as grounds for arrest. More info??

[Mr. Knowitall]

If you are charged with a crime, it's possible for a warrant to be issued for your arrest. You could also receive a summons.

The primary purpose of a police polygraph is to elicit a confession. The polygraph cannot be used in court but a confession can be.

[gulfguy]

If you are charged with a crime, it's possible for a warrant to be issued for your arrest. You could also receive a summons.

The primary purpose of a police polygraph is to elicit a confession. The polygraph cannot be used in court but a confession can be.

I will never confess to something I didn't do. I won't take a polygraph because I don't legally have to.
Can they even charge me with no evidence?
The problem is that if I'm arrested, I'd be shipped to Nebraska from Mississippi, which would take a while. I'd have to wait for court. That'd take a while. In the meantime, my bills aren't paid, I lose my job, school progress, etc, and by the time I'm found innocent in court, I come back to my life in shambles - again.

[aardvarc]

So, what should I expect now?

We have no way to guess. It appears that you're at least on the list of suspects, buy beyond that, we don't know what the police know, nor the status of any other suspects or other details of the investigation that would allow us to surmise.

Is this something they'd put a warrant out for me on?

If they charge you with the crime, yes.

Would they come and arrest me?

Possible, yes.

If so, what should I do? I can't afford a laywer.

If arrested, you say nothing and ask for an attorney. If you can't afford one, find out if you qualify for a public defender.

I just want this crap to be over with.

The only way YOU can speed up or close things is to cooperate - but you should NOT speak to police without an attorney present.

I don't like feeling threatened, and I certainly don't like the implications that my freedom may be stripped away.

So long as you remain an uncooperative suspect, I don't think that'll change.

Can they even charge me with no evidence?

What makes you think there's no evidence? Even CIRCUMSTANTIAL evidence IS evidence - they don't need your fingerprints on a money bag to arrest and prosecute, or even to win a case. This is exactly why your interests are best served by at least speaking with, if not retaining, an experienced criminal defense attorney.

[PandorasBox]

My suggestion.....get a consultation with an attorney. Find out how to proceed with things. You obviously do not want to be an uncooperative suspect, and you obviously want this taken care of. It might be worth some money to get a lawyer to talk to the cops, obtain copies of evidence (if any), and be done with it.

[gulfguy]

Possible, yes.

So I could be at home, 1,200 miles away, and cops could come arrest me? That won't give me any peace of mind at all. I'll constantly be worried about losing my freedom (temporarily) and my job and such.... No way around that?

[aardvarc]

So I could be at home, 1,200 miles away, and cops could come arrest me?

Your local law enforcement (where ever you happened to be, since a felony warrant is likely to be nationwide) would arrest you and hold you in their jail until extradition, at which point law enforcement of the appropriate jurisdiction would arrive to transport you back for trial.

I'll constantly be worried about losing my freedom (temporarily) and my job and such.... No way around that?

The statute of limitations for felony robbery in Nebraska is 3 years. They've got that long to bring a charge against someone. So long as you're still a suspect, no, there's no way around it until the SOL runs out. Either cross your fingers and hope to wait out the 3 years, hope someone else gets charged during that time, or get proactive and cooperate with the assistance of an attorney to get yourself crossed off the suspect list.

[gulfguy]

Any idea how much it'd cost to hire an attorney for something like this???

[LawResearcherMissy]

Attorney fees vary. The best way to find out is to talk to attorneys in your area and ask them about fees during a consultation. (First consultation is usually free or super super cheap - $25 - $50.)

[gulfguy]

Attorney fees vary. The best way to find out is to talk to attorneys in your area and ask them about fees during a consultation. (First consultation is usually free or super super cheap - $25 - $50.)

So, I'd want to talk to lawyers where I currently live, and not where I'm a suspect, correct?