Pleading Guilty or Not Guilty?

[nandnor]

What is the name of your state? Pennsylvania

I've been mailed two citations, one for Criminal Trespass and one for Criminal Mischief.

To summarize briefly, I lived with another girl over the summer, in separate bedrooms. I borrowed some clothes from her and pictures of me wearing them got on the internet, which she saw and called the police over.

Excessive? Yeah, most likely. But the citations exist. I received them a few days ago and I have about a week left to respond. I tried going to any free legal advice places in the area. The only one here doesn't handle criminal cases, and the public defender's office doesn't handle summary cases. I've been told it would be a waste of money to get a private attorney.

Is there a universal standard procedure for responding to citations? Do you always say "Not guilty" or do I just pay the fines ($237 total, kind of a big deal for a college student). $60 of it is for the Trespassing, and the whole citation is kind of erroneous. As it reads, it says I'm guilty of entering her room while the door was closed and she gave me no permission, both of which is false. The roommate doesn't really know when the clothes were borrowed, so she can't really say definitely whether or not her door was open at the time... but the truth is that it was and she told me to go in. Clearly, not to borrow her clothes, but that one already has its own citation.

Any help here would be greatly appreciated, since there don't seem to be any other avenues.

 

[seniorjudge]

Q: Is there a universal standard procedure for responding to citations?

A: No.


Q: Do you always say "Not guilty" or do I just pay the fines?

A: You could ask for a jury trial. You wouldn't have to do anything, the prosecutor will get miffed because it screws up the docket, and the complaining witness will have to take a lot of time off to come to court.

 

[BL]

What is the name of your state? Pennsylvania

I've been mailed two citations, one for Criminal Trespass and one for Criminal Mischief.

To summarize briefly, I lived with another girl over the summer, in separate bedrooms. I borrowed some clothes from her and pictures of me wearing them got on the internet, which she saw and called the police over.

Excessive? Yeah, most likely. But the citations exist. I received them a few days ago and I have about a week left to respond. I tried going to any free legal advice places in the area. The only one here doesn't handle criminal cases, and the public defender's office doesn't handle summary cases. I've been told it would be a waste of money to get a private attorney.

Is there a universal standard procedure for responding to citations? Do you always say "Not guilty" or do I just pay the fines ($237 total, kind of a big deal for a college student). $60 of it is for the Trespassing, and the whole citation is kind of erroneous. As it reads, it says I'm guilty of entering her room while the door was closed and she gave me no permission, both of which is false. The roommate doesn't really know when the clothes were borrowed, so she can't really say definitely whether or not her door was open at the time... but the truth is that it was and she told me to go in. Clearly, not to borrow her clothes, but that one already has its own citation.

Any help here would be greatly appreciated, since there don't seem to be any other avenues.

You were offered fines for criminal acts ?

 

[seniorjudge]

You were offered fines for criminal acts ?

In some states, there are infractions or summary offenses which are graded below misdemeanors.

For example, we are neighbors and I wander across the line (unknowingly). That means I am trespassing, but it's probably just an infraction or a summary offense.

We laugh about it, have a few drinks, smoke some cigars, start yelling at the girls walking through the neighborhood, etc. Then cops come and arrest us. We've committed misdemeanors.

 

[BL]

In some states, there are infractions or summary offenses which are graded below misdemeanors.

For example, we are neighbors and I wander across the line (unknowingly). That means I am trespassing, but it's probably just an infraction or a summary offense.

We laugh about it, have a few drinks, smoke some cigars, start yelling at the girls walking through the neighborhood, etc. Then cops come and arrest us. We've committed misdemeanors.

Thanks , I wasn't aware a fine could be imposed for that crime .

 

[seniorjudge]

Thanks , I wasn't aware a fine could be imposed for that crime .

Did you mean the drinking, the smoking, or the yelling at girls?

(Answer: It's the yelling at girls that would get us in trouble. Smoking and drinking are still semi-legal.)