16 year old needs help!!! misdemeanor

[shaun2204]

What is the name of your state?New York

Ok, heres my story:

My friend called me up one saturday night. I went to his house to hang out and chill for a while. Then he said "i have fireworks" He said that he needed to get them to his friends house. So I thought nothing of it and went along. We packed 2 suitcases of them. Then was the big mistake. We went into this wooded area /park. A car pulled up and an hour later my friend and I were being booked. They said that it was a class B misdemeanor. The thing is, they werent mine and my friend admitted to them being ALL his. I have an arrainment in a couple days where I will plead not guilty and wanted to know in the end, what will happen to me. How much is the fine?

P.S. - In the station, they never read me my rights. They took my info, then my statement and they made me sign it. They said if I dont sign it id have to stay overnight or longer. They never asked me to call my parents or an attorney. I am 16 years old, i thought I was a minor. They said id mbe tried as an adult. THEY WERENT EVEN MINE. The cops said their was about 300 dollars of fireworks. My friend agreed and I ws left in the dark and had no idea the cost. I did not have any intent of doing this, it was spontanious. People said that I could plea it down to disorderly conduct but how much would that cost. The thing that really pisses me off is that they put on my court appearence ticket is Intent to sell**************...and they werent mine....

[outonbail]

You weren't wearing one of those change belts were you? Like the Good Humor man wears.....

So, what exactly was it that gave rise to this detour in tha park? Weren't you headed to a friends house with this illegal cache of celebration paraphernalia? Were you in a car or on foot? Were each of you carrying a suitcase? Did either of you have any matches or lighters on you?

While in this park, did you happen to ignite any of these fireworks, perhaps by accident or checking for duds?

Just wanted to read a few more details,,,, I have a feeling this story involves more than a casual stroll in the park.

(Begin Patriotic background music here) I loved those quality fireworks as a kid and remember family members returning from South Carolina with a trunk full of everything not marked safe & sane by the manufacturer. I don't believe it ever took more than thirty seconds after that trunk was open, for the whole neighborhood to hear the first aerial "report"!

So I know I could have never made it all the way through a park, or a ballfield, or a school yard etc. etc., without offering tribute to all the fallen American hero's who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom!

Unfortunately, in most states, this freedom does not include making a personal tribute, with "report". I was certainly aware of this at an early age and I imagine you were here, as well.

Sounds like your two biggest mistakes were"

1. Overkill in inventory, There's really no reason to be hauling two suit cases.

2. Providing and/or signing a statement for the police, prior to consulting with an attorney, is a habit you should break ASAP.

It may be that they have filed charges on you as they are planning to use you as a pawn in this caper. so they have a witness to testify against your friend in exchange for a lien sentence or dropping charges altogether. Only time will tell.

[CdwJava]

Originally Posted by shaun2204

... The thing is, they werent mine and my friend admitted to them being ALL his. ... THEY WERENT EVEN MINE. ... I did not have any intent of doing this, it was spontanious.

OWNERSHIP is not relevant. Possession is.

You had in your possession a batch of illegal fireworks. Prior to transporting them you KNEW they were illegal yet agreed to do it anyway.

Let's change it to dope, shall we? Say your friend calls and tells you he has a kilo of "illegal" cocaine he wants you to transport. You go ahead and help him package it up and haul it away. You get busted by the cops and claim that the cocaine wasn't yours ...

See where that argument is going?

If you can afford it, hire an attorney.

- Carl

[shaun2204]

ok, we werent setting them off first of all. It was a shortcut to get to his house. Now it dosent matter if at all he said they ALL were his and i had nothing to do with them except helping him bring them to his friends house? anyway, at the arrainment i will plead not guilty and hope that they give me a plea bargain of disorderly conduct and a fine. if not, i will have to go to court.