Son left on side of the road by chaparone

[myserenity71]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? new jersey
My son (14) went on a snow tubing trip with a group of friends. The father of one of the children took them on a small school bus that they own soley for family recreation. When they got back into the vicinity of where we live the father asked my son how do I get to your house from here. My son told him he did not know. The father then preceded to tell my son to get the hell out of the bus, and left him on the side of a very dangerous road, where he had no idea where he was, walked about 5 miles in the cold at 9pm. He wound up finding a country club and asked the receptionist if he could please use the phone to call me. We picked him up, obviously he was very upset and shaken up. Long story short, I called the police, they came to the house, took a report, then went to the drivers house. The officer told me he could not file a charge because he did not witness the event, however I could go to police headquaters and sign a complaint against him myself, which I attempted to do, however I was looking at endangering the welfare of a child, and all the things related to that charge were of a sexual nature. The police would not tell me or help me to find a statute to charge him with. After doing some research, I came up with abandonment, however I need to find the exact statute number (and letter?) that this would be. I want to make sure that I have everything right so it does not get thrown out. Can anyone please help me and let me know if abandonment is the proper charge, and the exact statute I need to use... thanks in advance

 

[stealth2]

Why do I get the feeling your son has only told you part of the story?

 

[xylene]

My son (14) told him he did not know [where he lived]

At 14 I was running a small business and capable of driving a car if not legally.... and so were loads of my friends. Mini-adults.

I darn well knew my home address.

The father then preceded to tell my son to get the hell out of the bus,

Something is very much amiss here.

Does your boy have developmental problems?

14 is high school age.

There is more to this, either that makes the fathers conduct even more egregious or that makes it a kid who had to walk a few miles.

 

[myserenity71]

my son is telling me the whole story, the daughter of the driver even gave a statement to the police because she could not believe what her father had done. My son knows his home address, he did not know how to get to our house from where they where, which was a good 7 miles away. It was considered serious enough for dyfs investigation as well. I am looking for legal advice, not judgement.

 

[Antigone*]

my son is telling me the whole story, the daughter of the driver even gave a statement to the police because she could not believe what her father had done. My son knows his home address, he did not know how to get to our house from where they where, which was a good 7 miles away. It was considered serious enough for dyfs investigation as well. I am looking for legal advice, not judgement.

If you filed a police report and called DYFS, then you've done all you can do. You will need to let the process take its course.

I'd like to know if you called this man and gave him a piece of your mind.

 

[xylene]

I am looking for legal advice, not judgement.

Please, raise your threshold for 'being judged' about %10000 if you want to tangle in the courts. I and another asked for clarification.

You should have mentioned the corroborating witness, DYFS involvement, and complete circumstances. The wording of you orginal post omits all that reads as if your son was either ignorant of his home or being defiant.

Advice

Your son was harmed by an adult.

There are corroborating witnesses and state support.

You should get a lawyer for your for your family immediately because this is really not a do it yourself type thing.

You really want to get it right... because people who are hot heads like to sue those who wrongly accuse them. Something maybe you did not consider.

 

[stealth2]

my son is telling me the whole story, the daughter of the driver even gave a statement to the police because she could not believe what her father had done. My son knows his home address, he did not know how to get to our house from where they where, which was a good 7 miles away. It was considered serious enough for dyfs investigation as well. I am looking for legal advice, not judgement.

And we're trying to ascertain what really happened. 'Cause I still think there was more to it - even if the daughter didn't believe what her Dad did. Not saying Dad was in the right - but there is something seriously missing in what you've related.

My oldest (19) is as directionally challenged as they come (seriously - he could get lost trying to get out of a paper bag), but at 14, he did know the main street closest to our house, as well as the turn-off from there into our neighborhood.

No one in the group had a cell phone? None of them had a clue, either, how to get to your place?

I just find it very difficult to believe that your 14yo very nicely and politely told Dad that he wasn't sure how to get home and Dad just tossed him off in the middle of nowhere.

Of course, you are always free to contact an attorney if you don't like the help volunteers are trying to provide.

 

[Zigner]

Please, raise your threshold for 'being judged' about %10000 if you want to tangle in the courts. I and another asked for clarification.

You should have mentioned the corroborating witness, DYFS involvement, and complete circumstances. The wording of you orginal post omits all that reads as if your son was either ignorant of his home or being defiant.

Advice

Your son was harmed by an adult.

There are corroborating witnesses and state support.

You should get a lawyer for your for your family immediately because this is really not a do it yourself type thing.

You really want to get it right... because people who are hot heads like to sue those who wrongly accuse them. Something maybe you did not consider.

The boy was harmed?
I'd go so far as to say that he was placed in a dangerous situation, but I see no evidence of "harm".

 

[myserenity71]

The father has admitted to the wife and daughter that he doesn't know why he did it. My son had a cell phone, but it was dead. One of the other children on the bus called the drivers daughter and told her what her father had done. I fail to understand, as do you, why this guy would just dump my son off on the side of the road for no reason. He told his wife he wasn't feeling good. The wife called and begged me to please not press charges against her husband, that she doesn't understand why he did this. As for my son not knowing how to get home from where they were, I live in a town that consists of like 9 different towns. Middletown. I find it difficult to believe that this father just did this, the same way you do, but he did. He was interviewed by dyfs last night because of this. Even the dyfs worker said it bothered her all weekend thinking that this guy just left a 14 year old kid on the side of a very narrow, dangerous road. I don't mean to be rude, but I am sorry if you don't believe my story, but I was not asking for your opinion, I was asking for legal advice..thanks

 

[Zigner]

The father has admitted to the wife and daughter that he doesn't know why he did it. My son had a cell phone, but it was dead. One of the other children on the bus called the drivers daughter and told her what her father had done. I fail to understand, as do you, why this guy would just dump my son off on the side of the road for no reason. He told his wife he wasn't feeling good. The wife called and begged me to please not press charges against her husband, that she doesn't understand why he did this. As for my son not knowing how to get home from where they were, I live in a town that consists of like 9 different towns. Middletown. I find it difficult to believe that this father just did this, the same way you do, but he did. He was interviewed by dyfs last night because of this. Even the dyfs worker said it bothered her all weekend thinking that this guy just left a 14 year old kid on the side of a very narrow, dangerous road. I don't mean to be rude, but I am sorry if you don't believe my story, but I was not asking for your opinion, I was asking for legal advice..thanks

So, the daughter witnessed NOTHING.

 

[myserenity71]

zigner, I did not want to seem like I was rambling, so I tried to keep it brief. The guy also slammed my sons hand in the door, and the dyfs worker has that documented as well. I have to go back to work, but will check back later for any advice or statutes, thanks!

 

[xylene]

The boy was harmed?
I'd go so far as to say that he was placed in a dangerous situation, but I see no evidence of "harm".

Little boys have feelings.

 

[CdwJava]

If the police cannot identify a charge upon which they can act, that likely means that the potential offense is either a misdemeanor, or none exists at this point. It could also be that under state law the potential for harm is not sufficient for a criminal charge absent some actual harm or the reasonable likelihood that harm might occur.

A lawsuit would seem to be pointless as you would have to articulate damages. No damage equals no real claim. While anything could have been possible, we just do not usually get to act on possibilities

 

[Zigner]

Little boys have feelings.

I see no evidence of harm to the boy's feelings