Legal Q: did SWIM skate?

[bcubed]

Rest assured that SWIM will follow up with a lawyer in any event, but he'd like to get an idea from others who have been in his shoes where he stands.

SWIM got popped early Fri morning for something he'd just as soon not mention specifically. Suffice to say it's one of the more severe misdomeanors. There's no question about guilt; they had him dead to rights.

AS he was a first-timer, some of the other prisoners in the holding cells told him what to expect: "you'll see a judge sometime today; they'll set bail and give you a date to return for your trial. If you don't see a judge within 72 hours, they have to let you go."

As the day progressed, all the other four detainees went before the judge while SWIM sat in his cell. Twice during this time, he was asked who his arresting officer was, he truthfully replied, "I don't know."

About 14 hours after arrest, they release him from his cell, give him his personal effects back, had him sign that it was all there, and pointeed him to the nearest bus out of town. No judge, no mention of bail, no follow-up court date. SWIM's best guess was that they were unable to find the paperwork OR the arresting officer to tell them where it was.

Did SWIM skate? What's his next move?