T
terry5048
Guest
I loaned my 18 year old nephew a key to lay down in my van when he said he wasn't feeling well. He promptly left town and headed for my residence in Mississippi while I was inside a building unaware this was happening. At my residence, he exchanged the van for my truck (both keys were on the key ring) and left the state. When he wrecked in Illinois the following day, Sunday, the police notified me, impounded the truck, and detained my nephew until his parents could get him. The Sheriff's Dept advised me that if I wanted to file charges I could on Monday through the Justice Court Clerk or wait a few days to consider whether or not to file charges since it was my nephew. Since the Illinois police officer had told me it looked like about only $25 (turned out to be $885) in damages to the truck and the boy's parents said they would make good on the impound fee and trip costs (they didn't) I decided to wait. I returned home on Tuesday night. Wednesday I went to the Justice Court Clerk who directed me to the Sheriff's Dept after finding out it was a $13,000 truck to file a Grand Theft Auto charge. The 3 personnel there debated as to whether this would be the correct charge or if it should be Unauthorized Use because my nephew had the key. No decision was made, consequently no charges either as the insurance company may not pay on the latter charge - is this right - and I would prefer the GTA charge. On my return to try to settle the matter on Thursday I got the same runaround. Who do I see to file charges and what should the charges be? By the way, my nephew fled the state after returning with his parents for parts unknown Wednesday night and the parents are now threatening to vandalize my vehicles and home.