Minor took my car; got arrested

[Scared25]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Ohio

To make a very long story short, my friend's juvenile delinquent brother took off with my car while we were watching a movie the other week. I handed him the keys to get my friend's cell phone and after about half an hour he didn't come back and I was naturally concerned, but I never would've dreamed he'd drive off with it. He took my car on a joy ride around town, called me and told me he was at his friend's house. At that point, I was out in the lobby ordering a drink & didn't want to make a big scene so I said "DO NOT go anywhere else. Stay there. After you're done come right back to the theater".

Well, an hour after that my friend got a call from her mother. He was arrested in a parking lot in my car drinking and doing stupid things with some friends. He's sixteen, has a permit, but not a license. The cop wasn't angry at me in the least. He gave me the address with which I could get my car, told me several times that I wasn't in any trouble, and even complimented me on how I handled the situation (I'm 18). He went to court the next day & the judge told my friend's brother that he would most likely end up getting parole for the offense. I never got a ticket, never got cited, never heard anything else about it since.

Still, i'm worried I may somehow get in trouble since I technically did hand him the keys. It's a complicated situation and I don't know what to think and I am very nervous. Is there any chance I could get into trouble? Or would I have known by now?

 

[mistoffolees]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Ohio

To make a very long story short, my friend's juvenile delinquent brother took off with my car while we were watching a movie the other week. I handed him the keys to get my friend's cell phone and after about half an hour he didn't come back and I was naturally concerned, but I never would've dreamed he'd drive off with it. He took my car on a joy ride around town, called me and told me he was at his friend's house. At that point, I was out in the lobby ordering a drink & didn't want to make a big scene so I said "DO NOT go anywhere else. Stay there. After you're done come right back to the theater".

Well, an hour after that my friend got a call from her mother. He was arrested in a parking lot in my car drinking and doing stupid things with some friends. He's sixteen, has a permit, but not a license. The cop wasn't angry at me in the least. He gave me the address with which I could get my car, told me several times that I wasn't in any trouble, and even complimented me on how I handled the situation (I'm 18). He went to court the next day & the judge told my friend's brother that he would most likely end up getting parole for the offense. I never got a ticket, never got cited, never heard anything else about it since.

Still, i'm worried I may somehow get in trouble since I technically did hand him the keys. It's a complicated situation and I don't know what to think and I am very nervous. Is there any chance I could get into trouble? Or would I have known by now?

You gave him the keys so he could open the door to get something out of the car. You did not give him permission to drive the car. I can't see how you can get in trouble.

 

[davew128]

He went to court the next day & the judge told my friend's brother that he would most likely end up getting parole for the offense.

Parole isn't a sentence for a crime.

 

[HomeGuru]

Parole isn't a sentence for a crime.

**A: and his other post "minor took my car drinking" also makes no sense.

 

[Scared25]

Yeah, sorry about the double posting; I have anxiety attacks & was in the middle of one when I posted both threads. My apologies if anything was incoherent. This is just something that's been bothering me for a while.

I guess I overreacted a bit. Now I'm mostly concerned about what would happen if he tried to say I did give him permission. Would his claim be examined if he said this was the case? I spoke to him about it afterwards and said I wouldn't press charges as long as he expressly informed them that I did NOT permit this behavior nor did I let him drive my car, but I have no doubt he'll say anything to weasel his way out of it.

Also, when I said "parole", I believe I meant probation. I got the terms confused. His court date is this Friday; he was told he might get probation at his arraignment.

 

[mistoffolees]

Yeah, sorry about the double posting; I have anxiety attacks & was in the middle of one when I posted both threads. My apologies if anything was incoherent. This is just something that's been bothering me for a while.

I guess I overreacted a bit. Now I'm mostly concerned about what would happen if he tried to say I did give him permission. Would his claim be examined if he said this was the case? I spoke to him about it afterwards and said I wouldn't press charges as long as he expressly informed them that I did NOT permit this behavior nor did I let him drive my car, but I have no doubt he'll say anything to weasel his way out of it.

Let's play it out.

Let's say he does say that you gave him permission. You respond that you did not. That makes it your word against his. The court is not likely to penalize you on the word of a kid who knowingly stole a car.

(Of course, the other side is that you apparently didn't file a police report for him stealing your car. )

In any event, there's no point worrying. You weren't cited for anything. You weren't given a ticket. There was no damage done. So who would try to go after you? It's a non-issue. Just drop it and move on.

 

[Mass_Shyster]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Ohio

To make a very long story short, my friend's juvenile delinquent brother took off with my car while we were watching a movie the other week. I handed him the keys to get my friend's cell phone and after about half an hour he didn't come back and I was naturally concerned, but I never would've dreamed he'd drive off with it. He took my car on a joy ride around town, called me and told me he was at his friend's house. At that point, I was out in the lobby ordering a drink & didn't want to make a big scene so I said "DO NOT go anywhere else. Stay there. After you're done come right back to the theater".

Well, an hour after that my friend got a call from her mother. He was arrested in a parking lot in my car drinking and doing stupid things with some friends. He's sixteen, has a permit, but not a license. The cop wasn't angry at me in the least. He gave me the address with which I could get my car, told me several times that I wasn't in any trouble, and even complimented me on how I handled the situation (I'm 18). He went to court the next day & the judge told my friend's brother that he would most likely end up getting parole for the offense. I never got a ticket, never got cited, never heard anything else about it since.

Still, i'm worried I may somehow get in trouble since I technically did hand him the keys. It's a complicated situation and I don't know what to think and I am very nervous. Is there any chance I could get into trouble? Or would I have known by now?

The bolded part shows where you gave him permission to drive. If the police start asking questions, talk to an attorney.

 

[mistoffolees]

The bolded part shows where you gave him permission to drive.

Actually, it doesn't. If it is quoted accurately, he told the kid to come back to the theater, not to drive the car back.

 

[Mass_Shyster]

Actually, it doesn't. If it is quoted accurately, he told the kid to come back to the theater, not to drive the car back.

You could try arguing that, but I don't believe it, and I doubt a judge would either.

(Like Tom Brady was telling the fans to stay hydrated when he said "Start drinking early")

 

[davew128]

(Like Tom Brady was telling the fans to stay hydrated when he said "Start drinking early")

Remember who won the game

 

[davew128]

The bolded part shows where you gave him permission to drive.

I see no such thing. I see a kid being given keys to the car for the purpose of entering the vehicle and grabbing an item inside of it.

 

[xylene]

Who cares if the kid was given the keys?

The police didn't press any changes and I doubt they would or could.

And if he gave the kid permission, it doesn't for a defense for the kid.