What is the name of your state? California
I know we've all heard that before, but here's the situation. My son was at a party in July of 2003. He and another kid borrowed the car of a 3rd person at the party. My son was the passenger. The driver had been drinking and crashed the car. They both went back and told the owner of the car, and of course he freaked. He was scared to tell his mom because no-one was allowed to drive it, so he ended up reporting the car stolen. Both The driver and my son were arrested, and then let go when it went to court because the DA decided there was not enough evidence. Now, almost a year later, the DA re-opened the case saying there was enough evidence. There are witnesses at the party who said he gave them the keys. The owneer of the vehicle even came by my house a few days later to apologize to me for lying, and told me it was more his mother than him, because they could only file an insurance claim if the car was stolen. Now both the mother and the car owner refuse to tell the police the truth. The car owner made 3 separate statements to the police, all different, as far as times it happened and how he found out the car was gone. We also have witnesses after the fact for comments he's made of a racial nature (my son is black) saying he's going to stick with his own race (the driver was white). We cannot afford an attorney and have to rely on a public defender who really doesn't care. We were told by the DA that anyone with first hand knowledge should submit statements to the Sheriff's department which we did, and the sheriff called once late at night, and I have tried returning his calls, and even left a letter for him at the station and he has not called me back. Also, the driver of the car has not yet been arrested (it's been a month since charges were filed) even though he is at the same address he was when the incident occurred. There are charges on him though. My questions are, what steps can we take to make sure the public defender does his job? What can I do about the sheriff? They still have not assigned an investiigator to the case, and my son's next court date - the preliminary trial is in 3 weeks. When he is cleared, what can we do about a civil case against the owner and his mother for filing the false report with the police and insurance company (owner is a minor). My son has been in jail for a month and lost his job, not to mention his reputation. I am not saying he is an angel, but he di not do this. Sorry this was so long, any advice would help.
Thanks in advance
I know we've all heard that before, but here's the situation. My son was at a party in July of 2003. He and another kid borrowed the car of a 3rd person at the party. My son was the passenger. The driver had been drinking and crashed the car. They both went back and told the owner of the car, and of course he freaked. He was scared to tell his mom because no-one was allowed to drive it, so he ended up reporting the car stolen. Both The driver and my son were arrested, and then let go when it went to court because the DA decided there was not enough evidence. Now, almost a year later, the DA re-opened the case saying there was enough evidence. There are witnesses at the party who said he gave them the keys. The owneer of the vehicle even came by my house a few days later to apologize to me for lying, and told me it was more his mother than him, because they could only file an insurance claim if the car was stolen. Now both the mother and the car owner refuse to tell the police the truth. The car owner made 3 separate statements to the police, all different, as far as times it happened and how he found out the car was gone. We also have witnesses after the fact for comments he's made of a racial nature (my son is black) saying he's going to stick with his own race (the driver was white). We cannot afford an attorney and have to rely on a public defender who really doesn't care. We were told by the DA that anyone with first hand knowledge should submit statements to the Sheriff's department which we did, and the sheriff called once late at night, and I have tried returning his calls, and even left a letter for him at the station and he has not called me back. Also, the driver of the car has not yet been arrested (it's been a month since charges were filed) even though he is at the same address he was when the incident occurred. There are charges on him though. My questions are, what steps can we take to make sure the public defender does his job? What can I do about the sheriff? They still have not assigned an investiigator to the case, and my son's next court date - the preliminary trial is in 3 weeks. When he is cleared, what can we do about a civil case against the owner and his mother for filing the false report with the police and insurance company (owner is a minor). My son has been in jail for a month and lost his job, not to mention his reputation. I am not saying he is an angel, but he di not do this. Sorry this was so long, any advice would help.
Thanks in advance