The remaining three had disappeared and been found in default. Technically, that means they became fugitives with warrants issued for their arrests. But these people have not been targeted by any local or national search. The situation is hardly unique. The number of court defaults statewide has reached a crisis point, says Lt. Kevin Horton, chief of the State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension System in Framingham.
Drug dealers are among the most common court scofflaws, records show.
At least eight people charged with drug trafficking by New Bedford police in 1998 defaulted on court appearances and disappeared. That represents about a quarter of the court's pending drug cases, court officials say. Defaults cause problems in District Court, as well, court administrators say. More than 14 percent of the people arrested by New Bedford police in 1998 were wanted at the time of apprehension for defaulting on district court appearances for various charges, ranging from motor vehicle violations to assault, and distribution of drugs, according to a computer analysis by The Standard-Times. About half of all defendants default on court appearances at some point, prosecutors say.