The bond shall be exonerated by operation of law in a case where the defendant is arrested and there is an added charge that would result in a higher fine or longer term of sentence if convicted. True or False?

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not specified
• D. Only if a court approves

Answer: (A)

Exoneration by operation of law happens automatically when certain changes in the defendant’s circumstances occur while out on bond. In this case, if the defendant is arrested again and there is an added charge that could result in a higher fine or a longer term of imprisonment, the bond is discharged without needing a separate court order. The logic is that the original bond covered the risk for the initial charge, and a new, more severe charge changes the risk profile too much for the surety to continue liability under the same terms. Therefore the bond ends automatically. Choices that imply you need a court approval, or that there’s no specified automatic rule, don’t fit this statutory mechanism.