Lawyer recs needed for 18 yo who did dumb stuff

[Anonymous]

OP - so sorry for what you are going through. Not to add to the stress, but you may also need the advice of a competent college counselor- most colleges will rescind an acceptance over these charges. Wishing your family the best as you navigate these difficult circumstances.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.freeman4law.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwhtWvBhD9ARIsAOP0GogByslqbVs5e4DPjxHrVaQ6u75L8VC0cn8V_uBEZFO-B5X5CWtU0mAaAiQnEALw_wcB

George Freeman. He's compassionate and offers tough love at the same time. He's experienced and as a former FFX prosecutor knows everyone, including all of the judges.

OP here, thank you I will look into this. FWIW said 18 yo is still in high school and deciding which college to attend in the fall. First time with any legal issues and pretty much feels like life is over now..which is good I think for a while at least.

You kid isn’t doing dumb stuff, he did apparently several illegal things. You are right, he needs to feel pretty awful. Lawyer here…that can really help him turn things around. But don’t shrug it off, treat it as serious; do get his record expunged down the road if you can.

Former federal public defender - he should feel bad, but he should also know that he's loved.
Btw, im not a bleeding heart, but I've seen way too many young people have to go through hell alone. It doesn't make them better in the end.

Agree with this. My teen (NOT an adult) was charged with some crimes, and it was terrible. He was already seeing a therapist, and all of us (DH, therapist, me) kept reinforcing that his life was not over and that we love him, etc. The eventual resolution was deferred prosecution so no charges since he kept out of trouble. Not sure if that's an option for an adult. My DS is great now. He actually didn't even commit the crimes he was charged with, but he was hanging out with the wrong crowd, and the experience cured him of that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.freeman4law.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwhtWvBhD9ARIsAOP0GogByslqbVs5e4DPjxHrVaQ6u75L8VC0cn8V_uBEZFO-B5X5CWtU0mAaAiQnEALw_wcB

George Freeman. He's compassionate and offers tough love at the same time. He's experienced and as a former FFX prosecutor knows everyone, including all of the judges.

OP here, thank you I will look into this. FWIW said 18 yo is still in high school and deciding which college to attend in the fall. First time with any legal issues and pretty much feels like life is over now..which is good I think for a while at least.

You kid isn’t doing dumb stuff, he did apparently several illegal things. You are right, he needs to feel pretty awful. Lawyer here…that can really help him turn things around. But don’t shrug it off, treat it as serious; do get his record expunged down the road if you can.

Former federal public defender - he should feel bad, but he should also know that he's loved.
Btw, im not a bleeding heart, but I've seen way too many young people have to go through hell alone. It doesn't make them better in the end.

Agree with this. My teen (NOT an adult) was charged with some crimes, and it was terrible. He was already seeing a therapist, and all of us (DH, therapist, me) kept reinforcing that his life was not over and that we love him, etc. The eventual resolution was deferred prosecution so no charges since he kept out of trouble. Not sure if that's an option for an adult. My DS is great now. He actually didn't even commit the crimes he was charged with, but he was hanging out with the wrong crowd, and the experience cured him of that.

Adding that I would definitely NOT recommend the lawyer we used because the resolution should have been dropped charges instead of deferred prosecution. The lawyer we hired and everyone else, except for one of the officers on the supervision team, assumed that my DS was guilty. DS felt he was unable to defend himself because the kid who accused DS threatened him and threatened to harm me, we found out later. It was an eye-opening experience into the criminal "justice" system in this country. Good luck to your DS, OP.

[Anonymous]

Schertler & Oronato does some of this for college kids who get in trouble. I assume they do VA in addition to DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are lots of immature / dumb things, if I think back to high school, stuff kids got caught for...

Trespassing, public urination, indecent exposure (mooning, streaking), stealing a sign, graffiti, stealing a table from a 'competing' club's lounge, fireworks, marijuana related, break into the locked school, donuts in the parking lot that led to crashing into another car

That is what I remember off the top of my head

I don't know. I did many things from your list, was caught and let go with a stern talk. I'm thinking it had to be pretty bad to result in multiple charges

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree OP needs to think of it as kid did illegal things, not “dumb” things.

People who point out the illegality of things are often willing to overlook more serious things when their friends are involved, oh say, breaking into the Capitol and trying to overturn an election, paying a prostitute and fraudulently declaring it as a business expense, keeping national security secrets in your unsecured bathroom.

"Peaceful tourists"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.freeman4law.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwhtWvBhD9ARIsAOP0GogByslqbVs5e4DPjxHrVaQ6u75L8VC0cn8V_uBEZFO-B5X5CWtU0mAaAiQnEALw_wcB

George Freeman. He's compassionate and offers tough love at the same time. He's experienced and as a former FFX prosecutor knows everyone, including all of the judges.

OP here, thank you I will look into this. FWIW said 18 yo is still in high school and deciding which college to attend in the fall. First time with any legal issues and pretty much feels like life is over now..which is good I think for a while at least.

You kid isn’t doing dumb stuff, he did apparently several illegal things. You are right, he needs to feel pretty awful. Lawyer here…that can really help him turn things around. But don’t shrug it off, treat it as serious; do get his record expunged down the road if you can.

Former federal public defender - he should feel bad, but he should also know that he's loved.
Btw, im not a bleeding heart, but I've seen way too many young people have to go through hell alone. It doesn't make them better in the end.

Agree with this. My teen (NOT an adult) was charged with some crimes, and it was terrible. He was already seeing a therapist, and all of us (DH, therapist, me) kept reinforcing that his life was not over and that we love him, etc. The eventual resolution was deferred prosecution so no charges since he kept out of trouble. Not sure if that's an option for an adult. My DS is great now. He actually didn't even commit the crimes he was charged with, but he was hanging out with the wrong crowd, and the experience cured him of that.

Adding that I would definitely NOT recommend the lawyer we used because the resolution should have been dropped charges instead of deferred prosecution. The lawyer we hired and everyone else, except for one of the officers on the supervision team, assumed that my DS was guilty. DS felt he was unable to defend himself because the kid who accused DS threatened him and threatened to harm me, we found out later. It was an eye-opening experience into the criminal "justice" system in this country. Good luck to your DS, OP.

Lawyer here…there is no way the lawyer could have known that if s/he wasn’t told. We aren’t mind readers and have to use the facts presented to us.

You also can’t imagine how many lies we are told so generally attorneys think things are actually probably worse than we are told. Your kid was an anomaly (if that’s even true! Still skeptical because I learned the hard way early on we have to be!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are lots of immature / dumb things, if I think back to high school, stuff kids got caught for...

Trespassing, public urination, indecent exposure (mooning, streaking), stealing a sign, graffiti, stealing a table from a 'competing' club's lounge, fireworks, marijuana related, break into the locked school, donuts in the parking lot that led to crashing into another car

That is what I remember off the top of my head

Brad - is that you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are lots of immature / dumb things, if I think back to high school, stuff kids got caught for...

Trespassing, public urination, indecent exposure (mooning, streaking), stealing a sign, graffiti, stealing a table from a 'competing' club's lounge, fireworks, marijuana related, break into the locked school, donuts in the parking lot that led to crashing into another car

That is what I remember off the top of my head

I don't know. I did many things from your list, was caught and let go with a stern talk. I'm thinking it had to be pretty bad to result in multiple charges

Yeah, but you could do a dumb thing and compound it with a dumber thing. Like trespassing that turns into a police chase, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Yeah, but you could do a dumb thing and compound it with a dumber thing. Like trespassing that turns into a police chase, etc.

Yup. And if you're caught with weed and alcohol at age 18 it can add up to multiple charges.

[Anonymous]

Felony charges?? Damage over $1,000?

[Anonymous]

Sorry, I know I shouldn't, but I am LOL at donuts in the parking lot crashing into a parked car.

Jesus, teenagers are dumb.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please don’t bail out your child. They can find a lawyer or get a public defender. Step back, your privilege is showing. A little time in jail may be good.

I feel sorry for your kids and will profit off their need for therapy eventually.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Felony charges?? Damage over $1,000?

Yes, exactly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree OP needs to think of it as kid did illegal things, not “dumb” things.

People who point out the illegality of things are often willing to overlook more serious things when their friends are involved, oh say, breaking into the Capitol and trying to overturn an election, paying a prostitute and fraudulently declaring it as a business expense, keeping national security secrets in your unsecured bathroom.

Good point. Everyone knows national security secrets belong in your garage.