16yo vandalized/tresspassed??

[bobbitim]

What is the name of your state? NY
I just discovered tonight my 16 yo along w/ 2 other youths took another kids 4 wheeler valued at $7000.00 and pushed it and partially submerged it into a pond on his property in retribution of this kid beating up one of the kids(not mine).It has been 3 days and I have not heard from law or parents. My child sufferring major consequences at home and I am attempting to contact other parents of kids involved with this discovery.
What might be the juvenile laws pertaining to this action?

 

[Hopkins306]

If the vehicle is damaged it would be vandalism for sure. If i were you I'd just keep quite about it as it would only cause you legal trouble to say he's one of the kids that did it and don't believe that turning in the other kids in too is going to get your son any leeway with the cops.

 

[bobbitim]

he knew he was wrong, but as a child felt justified.

Advice maybe true, but it doesn't teach my child to be a better person or citizen.. only what he can get away with. When I make contact with all 3 parents and get a collective view I plan on having my child come forward and my child will be held accountable. It will be expensive and painful, but hopefully it will prevent him from doing this stupidity again after age 18, 25,35 or 50 and going to prison.

 

[stealth2]

You should be commended for making your child responsible for his actions. Kudos.

 

[Hopkins306]

You should be commended for making your child responsible for his actions. Kudos.

Dido...it will make him more responsible but jail time is one thing that could make a child more likely to become a criminal. you could try contacting the other parents and offering to split the damages to the vehicle three ways. If there was even any damage.

 

[fairisfair]

If the vehicle is damaged it would be vandalism for sure. If i were you I'd just keep quite about it as it would only cause you legal trouble to say he's one of the kids that did it and don't believe that turning in the other kids in too is going to get your son any leeway with the cops.

what are you talking about?? are you actually advising this poster to with hold evidence about a crime?? This is a legal web site. You will not be around for long.

 

[xylene]

what are you talking about?? are you actually advising this poster to with hold evidence about a crime?? This is a legal web site. You will not be around for long.

I don't think Hopkins being a dim bulb = an obligation to report crimes. Sorry.

 

[racer72]

what are you talking about?? are you actually advising this poster to with hold evidence about a crime?? This is a legal web site. You will not be around for long.

The advice given by Hopkins is extremely valid and is exactly what the OP would be told if and when they talk to a local attorney. The first thing a good defense attorney will tell a client is to shut up and don't say a thing. The best advice at this time is to not contact anyone concerning this, especially the victims. Keep quiet and only answer questions when asked. Do not offer anything. The penalty given to the OP's child by his parents is one thing but to become a Chatty Cathy will only serve to do a lot more harm than good.

 

[fairisfair]

The advice given by Hopkins is extremely valid and is exactly what the OP would be told if and when they talk to a local attorney. The first thing a good defense attorney will tell a client is to shut up and don't say a thing. The best advice at this time is to not contact anyone concerning this, especially the victims. Keep quiet and only answer questions when asked. Do not offer anything. The penalty given to the OP's child by his parents is one thing but to become a Chatty Cathy will only serve to do a lot more harm than good.

I do agree with you that is the advice that the OP would receive from an attorney defending his/her child. I do not agree that hiding the knowledge of the crime and keeping his/her mouth shut hoping that no one will find out and that it will go away, is either the legal, or the moral thing to do.

 

[fairisfair]

I don't think Hopkins being a dim bulb = an obligation to report crimes. Sorry.

of course you are right, regarding the obligation to report, I guess I am thinking, my kid, or my 4 wheeler, or my neighbor, or a different crime all together. When do we have an obligation to report? Okay, if not vandalism? then how about burglary? okay, if not burglary?, how about assault? murder? of course that is taking it to the extreme, and does not in anyway apply in this case. Besides, if the parent already knows what happened, and trust me, being a parent, I know we are the last to know anything, it is only a matter of time until everyone else knows too.

 

[xylene]

of course you are right, regarding the obligation to report, I guess I am thinking, my kid, or my 4 wheeler, or my neighbor, or a different crime all together. When do we have an obligation to report? Okay, if not vandalism? then how about burglary? okay, if not burglary?, how about assault? murder? of course that is taking it to the extreme, and does not in anyway apply in this case. Besides, if the parent already knows what happened, and trust me, being a parent, I know we are the last to know anything, it is only a matter of time until everyone else knows too.

My point was that hopkin's advice however dubious was in no way even close to a violation of the terms of use.

I can see the moral arguement, but I can also see the likely arguement where Mom's blabbing to the other parents of the guilty parties and victims parents turning junior into the only person held criminally responsible and junior (IE juniors parents) the only people held financially liable.

I also think that given this is NY another factor is did the gas contaminate water? The liability is huge.

 

[Hopkins306]

Right, I'm just doing what any good defence attourney would do. I'm not supporting anyone to do any criminal activity and If your expecting me to tell them to be honest and admit to a crime then my advice obviously wouldn't be lawyer like.

 

[racer72]

I do agree with you that is the advice that the OP would receive from an attorney defending his/her child. I do not agree that hiding the knowledge of the crime and keeping his/her mouth shut hoping that no one will find out and that it will go away, is either the legal, or the moral thing to do.

Do you go running to the police and ask for a ticket everytime you speed or fail to use your turn signal? The exact same logic applies here. That is why we have laws to protect the innocent and the accused. If the OP starts calling everyone accepting resposnsibility and the others take the more prudent route and let the system work the way it is designed, who is more likely to get stuck with the bill? If it was my kid, he would have hell to pay at home, that is my right and responsibility as a parent. But when it comes to protecting myself and my kids legal rights, both of us would keep our mouths shut. If asked, we will answer truthfully.

 

[fairisfair]

Do you go running to the police and ask for a ticket everytime you speed or fail to use your turn signal? The exact same logic applies here. That is why we have laws to protect the innocent and the accused. If the OP starts calling everyone accepting resposnsibility and the others take the more prudent route and let the system work the way it is designed, who is more likely to get stuck with the bill? If it was my kid, he would have hell to pay at home, that is my right and responsibility as a parent. But when it comes to protecting myself and my kids legal rights, both of us would keep our mouths shut. If asked, we will answer truthfully.

and that would be the difference between you and I. You think you are "right", I am sure you don't need me to think it too.

 

[fairisfair]

Right, I'm just doing what any good defence attourney would do. I'm not supporting anyone to do any criminal activity and If your expecting me to tell them to be honest and admit to a crime then my advice obviously wouldn't be lawyer like.

yeah, okay, whatever. you are a great
"defence attourney"