17 year old spent two nights with my kid and now mom is threatening me

[Sammyq]

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

My son has had a friend for many years who routinely spends the night at my house, often the entire weekend. He did the same thing last weekend. The only difference is the kids mom and I had a personal falling out so we have not been speaking. On Friday my son came home and told me the mother appeared at school yelling saying her son had not been home in six days. She claims he said he was at my house the whole time which is untrue. He was here Friday and Saturday and not again until Wednesday.

Anyway she has been sending me threatening message that she is calling the cops and DSS and the school on Tuesday. I had no idea he wasn't allowed here or that she didn't know where he was. When I found out I told her my son said he was told Joe was asked for his keys and kicked out of the house but if that was untrue to come get him. She refused saying he could get himself home. Yesterday I told him he was no longer allowed here and again asked her to come get him and she refused.

He has now left my house and went to another friends house because he doesn't want to go home. Can I be in trouble when I didn't even know she didn't know he was here?

 

[justalayman]

Most likely not given the history. As it was not uncommon the child frequented your home his presence wasn't unexpected. Once you became aware of the mother's disapproval of his presence in your home you took action to have him leave.

 

[Sammyq]

Thanks. Also I'm getting conflicting opinions on whether a 17 year old in South Carolina can be forced back home by the police. In some opinions it says they cannot and in others it says they can. I don't want to raise this lady's kid. I'm just concerned about his well being because he's determined not to go back home and my son said he stayed at someone else house last night because he's not going home. The mother has told me many times that she can't wait until he's 17 and can get out of the house and she's kicked him out before and then always gets mad at anyone who takes him in. She wants him to have no place to go. He works so if he was missing for six days she could have gone to his work or school or just asked his friends if they had seen him. I had no idea until This Friday that she didn't know where he was.

I would like to tell him to contact a police officer or a counselor at school but I don't want to even contact him since she's threatening me. It's very sad he's not a bad kid but I'm afraid he is going to get into trouble on the streets.

 

[justalayman]

Whether the child can be forced to return home or not is irrelevant to to. He is a minor until he reaches the age of 18. That means if aid a minor in avoiding his parents you can be charged with a crime. While it is hard to watch a child be in such a situstion, you must avoid aiding the minor. Contact child protective services or
The police but do not act in contrast to the parents demands in this matter. You are the one that will end up with the legal problems if you do.

 

[Sammyq]

As I stated already as soon as I found out she didn't want him here I sent him away but I thought this was a free legal advice site so I thought any question regarding the law would be welcomed and not judged as to whether it was relevant. It may not be relevant to me or you but I'm sure it's relevant to any kid living in a horrible situation. And I do think that may be wrong in this state. I've washed my hands of his situation and just now pray he stays safe.

 

[justalayman]

As I stated already as soon as I found out she didn't want him here I sent him away but I thought this was a free legal advice site so I thought any question regarding the law would be welcomed and not judged as to whether it was relevant. It may not be relevant to me or you but I'm sure it's relevant to any kid living in a horrible situation. And I do think that may be wrong in this state. I've washed my hands of his situation and just now pray he stays safe.

You totally misunderstood my statement. Being irrelevant doesn't mean you can't or shouldn't care. It is irrelevent to the laws regarding this and what can happen to you should you act in contrast to the mother's intent.

Leaving home prior the age of majority is a status offense and the child can be detained and can be returned to the parents home.

 

[Just Blue]

As I stated already as soon as I found out she didn't want him here I sent him away but I thought this was a free legal advice site so I thought any question regarding the law would be welcomed and not judged as to whether it was relevant. It may not be relevant to me or you but I'm sure it's relevant to any kid living in a horrible situation. And I do think that may be wrong in this state. I've washed my hands of his situation and just now pray he stays safe.

sigh...There is a difference to legally relevant and morally relevant. What you find to be a moral thing to do is not always a LEGAL thing to do.

 

[FarmerJ]

The best thing you can do is let your son tell his friend that your sorry about his situation with his mom but you do not want to have legal problems if his mother makes a issue of him staying at your home because she has kicked him out and wants him to have no where to be safe. You can find the nearest youth shelter even if its in another large city and have your son give him its contact information. Please don't block your son from seeing his friend even if its at another persons home. AS to mommie dearest as long as this other teen does not stay at your home let her call the dali llama , social services or the king of mars and complain. If they contact you and you do not know where her son is then you tell them you are aware this womans son was kicked out and you made it clear to him that he could no longer stay over night as your sons guest since they had been long term friends and have not seen or heard from the boy since . You might even suggest to your son show him this site should his friend need information.