17 year old son facing felony grand threft

[MR6868]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? CA, My son is facing felony charges for stealing a Rolex watch from a home during a party when the parents were not home...we have never had any problems with him in the past...he does well in school (all AP courses) but he did steal it and pawned the watch for worth $6000 dollars for $3300 dollars. He was picked up from school and admited to taking the watch all the money is still in the bank he said that he felt so guilty that he could not spend but felt he could not face trying to get the watch back...I did go with him to pawn the watch...the lie he told me was that he had found it on the beach while surfing turned it in to the main lifeguard tower and that they called his mom...my ex wife saying the watch was his because on claimed it after two weeks....I have full custody of him...he was booked at juvenile hall and released within two hours...he has no prior record or run ins with the law...he just screwed up big time! All the dedectives has said that he is great kid but like a 5 year old drawn to a shiny object he reacted...we have met with family he stole from they accepted his apology and we have returned the money to the pawn shop...who is now under investigation because they never filled out paper work for the sale...do I need to get an attourney? my son is applying for college will he get jail time. I know he messed up big time and he knows it too...he should pay a price for his mistake but I dont want to ruin his future.

 

[Proserpina]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? CA, My son is facing felony charges for stealing a Rolex watch from a home during a party when the parents were not home...we have never had any problems with him in the past...he does well in school (all AP courses) but he did steal it and pawned the watch for worth $6000 dollars for $3300 dollars. He was picked up from school and admited to taking the watch all the money is still in the bank he said that he felt so guilty that he could not spend but felt he could not face trying to get the watch back...I did go with him to pawn the watch...the lie he told me was that he had found it on the beach while surfing turned it in to the main lifeguard tower and that they called his mom...my ex wife saying the watch was his because on claimed it after two weeks....I have full custody of him...he was booked at juvenile hall and released within two hours...he has no prior record or run ins with the law...he just screwed up big time! All the dedectives has said that he is great kid but like a 5 year old drawn to a shiny object he reacted...we have met with family he stole from they accepted his apology and we have returned the money to the pawn shop...who is now under investigation because they never filled out paper work for the sale...do I need to get an attourney? my son is applying for college will he get jail time. I know he messed up big time and he knows it too...he should pay a price for his mistake but I dont want to ruin his future.

Yes he needs an attorney.

I'm sorry - I know you don't want his future to be compromised, but he's 17 - not 10. Shiny objects which don't belong to you should be safe from even a 17 year old who might have (for example) had a few beers.

Get him an attorney.

 

[MR6868]

Thanks for your opinion…are you in the legal field/ attorney or just some with an opinion? I would like a person with actual knowledge to reply.

 

[Zigner]

Thanks for your opinion…are you in the legal field/ attorney or just some with an opinion? I would like a person with actual knowledge to reply.

Oh, you wanted ACTUAL knowledge...

Get an attorney.

 

[Proserpina]

Thanks for your opinion…are you in the legal field/ attorney or just some with an opinion? I would like a person with actual knowledge to reply.

Did you wish to read "Gosh no, he did nothing really wrong, poor lamb, get those charges dropped as he surely does not deserve such treatment"? Can't do that, sorry.

I thought you wanted advice. You were given accurate and correct advice - your son needs an attorney.

Nope, I'm not an attorney. Never played one on TV and no, I did not stay in a Holiday Inn last night.

 

[tranquility]

Yes, he needs an attorney. There are many potential crimes here, including the burglary when he entered the pawnshop with the intent to pawn the watch. Even though he's already given a statement (stupid, stupid, stupid), an attorney can try to mitigate the charges and/or eliminate the statement.

And, while you're at it, you might give one a call for yourself as well. While I think it unlikely you are charged, it strains credulity that you thought this was all on the up and up without checking out the story more. At the very least, it's not reasonable. That may not equal intent, but I bet the police will talk to you and your role in this as well. Just so you know, when they do, remain silent.

 

[MR6868]

Gosh no…that’s not what I was looking for…sorry to interrupt your valued filled day…of searching obscure post on a legal website or your facebook time anticipating your 20th high school reunion…so I will reframe from searching out useless info. Just thought that someone out there may have been through a similar situation prior…enjoy your life.

“We can never judge the lives of others, because each person knows only their own pain and renunciation. It's one thing to feel that you are on the right path, but it's another to think that yours is the only path.”

 

[Zigner]

Gosh no…that’s not what I was looking for…sorry to interrupt your valued filled day…of searching obscure post on a legal website or your facebook time anticipating your 20th high school reunion…so I will reframe from searching out useless info. Just thought that someone out there may have been through a similar situation prior…enjoy your life.

“We can never judge the lives of others, because each person knows only their own pain and renunciation. It's one thing to feel that you are on the right path, but it's another to think that yours is the only path.”

You got your answer - get an attorney. It is your choice if you wish to reframe from searching out useless info.

 

[Proserpina]

Gosh no…that’s not what I was looking for…sorry to interrupt your valued filled day…of searching obscure post on a legal website or your facebook time anticipating your 20th high school reunion…so I will reframe from searching out useless info. Just thought that someone out there may have been through a similar situation prior…enjoy your life.

“We can never judge the lives of others, because each person knows only their own pain and renunciation. It's one thing to feel that you are on the right path, but it's another to think that yours is the only path.”

Oh now this was just cruel.

I've successfully pretended that my 20 year high-school reunion was in fact another 10 years away. And now that you've forced me to face the truth that it's actually about 10 weeks away (and not 10 years) I shall have no other option than to put on my best red FM pumps and high-tail it down to my plastic surgeon to have that painful discussion about "filler".

Le sigh.

Cruel, man. Just cruel.

 

[CdwJava]

My son is facing felony charges for stealing a Rolex watch from a home during a party when the parents were not home...we have never had any problems with him in the past...he does well in school (all AP courses) but he did steal it and pawned the watch for worth $6000 dollars for $3300 dollars.

Then he definitely needs an attorney as he has committed the crime of grand theft and, possibly (as mentioned), the crime of burglary as well.

The fact that he has admitted this to you also makes YOU a potential witness for the prosecution. CA does not recognize a parent-child confidentiality.

He was picked up from school and admited to taking the watch all the money is still in the bank he said that he felt so guilty that he could not spend but felt he could not face trying to get the watch back...I did go with him to pawn the watch...the lie he told me was that he had found it on the beach while surfing turned it in to the main lifeguard tower and that they called his mom...my ex wife saying the watch was his because on claimed it after two weeks....

While you may have been that gullible, the law does not say that. Believing that tale might keep you and your ex from being charged, but as previously mentioned it does strain credulity.

I have full custody of him...he was booked at juvenile hall and released within two hours...he has no prior record or run ins with the law...he just screwed up big time!

Yes, he did.

All the dedectives has said that he is great kid but like a 5 year old drawn to a shiny object he reacted...we have met with family he stole from they accepted his apology and we have returned the money to the pawn shop...who is now under investigation because they never filled out paper work for the sale...do I need to get an attourney?

Your son definitely needs an attorney. You might not, but it might not hurt to consult one just to evaluate your own potential exposure to criminal or civil liability should it get that far.

my son is applying for college will he get jail time. I know he messed up big time and he knows it too...he should pay a price for his mistake but I dont want to ruin his future.

He MIGHT be eligible for some form of diversion program, but that will depend on the county and how agreeable the DA is to deal. Your son's attorney can work that out. It is likely that your son will be on probation when he goes off to college (assuming he is in his senior year now), so hopefully this is not a question on any applications he might be filling out. Student aid might be affected by a conviction, though, so that might be an avenue of investigation as well.

- Carl

 

[Indiana Filer]

Thanks for your opinion…are you in the legal field/ attorney or just some with an opinion? I would like a person with actual knowledge to reply.

I'm a juvenile probation officer, so I have knowledge. Here's my advice:

Yes he needs an attorney.

I'm sorry - I know you don't want his future to be compromised, but he's 17 - not 10. Shiny objects which don't belong to you should be safe from even a 17 year old who might have (for example) had a few beers.

Get him an attorney.

 

[AnotherMoron]

You got your answer - get an attorney. It is your choice if you wish to reframe from searching out useless info.

Hey, I just reframed this weekend. It was a picture I'd drawn and the glass was cracked.

Unfortunately it wasn't a criminal drawing, so my experience has no relevance to this thread.

 

[Ozark_Sophist]

Hey, I just reframed this weekend. It was a picture I'd drawn and the glass was cracked.

Unfortunately it wasn't a criminal drawing, so my experience has no relevance to this thread.

I am going to refrain from responding.