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<section article="gfl" article_name="Family Law" number="10-213" title_number="10" title_name="Support in General" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Criminal Nonsupport and Desertion">
  <level label="a">
    <text>On receipt of a complaint or on personal knowledge or information that an individual has violated § 10-201 or § 10-203 of this subtitle, the State’s Attorney, a deputy State’s Attorney, or an assistant State’s Attorney may hold a pretrial inquiry.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>In connection with any pretrial inquiry under this section:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>the State’s Attorney may issue a summons that requires a person other than the accused individual to appear, to testify, and to produce documents connected to the inquiry; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>the State’s Attorney, a deputy State’s Attorney, or an assistant State’s Attorney may:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>administer oaths;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>examine witnesses; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>receive evidence.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>If a person fails to obey a summons, or fails to testify or comply with a request of the State’s Attorney, a deputy State’s Attorney, or an assistant State’s Attorney, the State’s Attorney may request the circuit court to order the person:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>to obey the summons;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>to testify; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>to produce any document that the court considers necessary for the inquiry.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If a person fails or refuses to obey the order of court after the order has been served, the person is in contempt of court and the court may punish the person for the contempt.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>A finding of contempt under this subsection is subject to appeal.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
