§ 386 Proceedings where defendant at large.

If someone is charged with a crime through an indictment but has never been arrested and isn't out on bail, the court handles it the same way it would handle a defendant who skipped their arraignment. In other words, the law treats this situation like a no-show, even though the person may not have known charges were coming.

This means the court can issue a warrant for the person's arrest. The goal is to get the defendant into court so the case can move forward. Since the person wasn't already tied to the case through an arrest or bail agreement, the court needs a way to bring them in, and this rule provides that process.

For someone in this situation, it means charges can be filed and a warrant can be issued even if they had no prior contact with the court. If you find out you've been indicted but never arrested, it's important to get legal help right away, since a warrant may already be active for your arrest.