If he's 18 can he get a public defender? Some of them are overworked and not good, but some are great and know the courts and judges better than folks with smaller caseloads. I don't know enough about FFX to say (in DC I'd strongly consider PDS over a private lawyer for a lot of things). It might be at least worth seeing who he's assigned to and if he likes them.

Make your kid pay for the lawyer (even if that means you pay and they pay you back) - it'll make a direct impact on them to see decisions have consequences (and not to decide is a decision within itself).

It would be helpful to know what county. If the event happened in Northern Virginia - Mandy Petrocelli would be a great choice. If you need someone in a college town, Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, Blacksburg, etc. you are going to want someone more local. Brace yourself, you may start receiving advertising letters from attorneys. Most will offer free consultation, pick people with addresses close to the courthouse for the county where the charge is. Less than a mile away. If the office is close to the courthouse, the attorney is in the courthouse all the time. That’s who you want.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At some point when it's all resolved will you come back and tell us what he did. Maybe it can be a helpful cautionary tale for the rest of us. Good luck to you and your family.

Let's hope it all gets resolved and yes I'll give an update. Doesn't seem like a great idea to give specifics at present.

And to the previous poster who said good job, thank you and I'm the mom

Will you at least tell us if there was a victim?

no victim but serious charges nonetheless

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At some point when it's all resolved will you come back and tell us what he did. Maybe it can be a helpful cautionary tale for the rest of us. Good luck to you and your family.

Let's hope it all gets resolved and yes I'll give an update. Doesn't seem like a great idea to give specifics at present.

And to the previous poster who said good job, thank you and I'm the mom

Will you at least tell us if there was a victim?

Anonymous wrote:Former lawyer here. Freeman sounds like a great choice but I'd hope that someone in the legal profession would have carefully spell-checked their website. Freeman's website says he graduated "manga cum laude." You might want him to send you his filings before they are sent to the judge so you can check/edit them.

Thank you for the laugh, I needed it. Maybe he's into comics.

Anonymous wrote:At some point when it's all resolved will you come back and tell us what he did. Maybe it can be a helpful cautionary tale for the rest of us. Good luck to you and your family.

Let's hope it all gets resolved and yes I'll give an update. Doesn't seem like a great idea to give specifics at present.

And to the previous poster who said good job, thank you and I'm the mom

Former lawyer here. Freeman sounds like a great choice but I'd hope that someone in the legal profession would have carefully spell-checked their website. Freeman's website says he graduated "manga cum laude." You might want him to send you his filings before they are sent to the judge so you can check/edit them.

What kind of dumb/illegal stuff? Was there a victim?

At some point when it's all resolved will you come back and tell us what he did. Maybe it can be a helpful cautionary tale for the rest of us. Good luck to you and your family.

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.

PP here, agree with you. Sounds like OP has that under control, he’s finding a lawyer and helping his son figure it out, while not minimizing it. Good job, dad.

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.

.

George Freeman is perfect for this. He will support your kid and help him know life isn’t over and scare him a bit at the same time—like a really good dad. All while getting the best results possible. Do a free Zoom consult with him.

PP here ^^. Also, fwiw, I’m a lawyer as well (not a crim defense lawyer).

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.

.

George Freeman is perfect for this. He will support your kid and help him know life isn’t over and scare him a bit at the same time—like a really good dad. All while getting the best results possible. Do a free Zoom consult with him.

I’m sorry OP. Wishing you and your family the best. I wish I had a suggestion, but for the nasty posters, people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones - could be your perfect little peach of a kid one day.

DUI?