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Please help I am very confused

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jaquarqueen

Junior Member
What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state?Minnesota
I keyed a car in a parking lot because I was upset about some things. I realized what I did was wrong and felt awful about it. I went and turned myself into the police. The officer that I spoke with felt that since I had turned myself in, realized my wrong doings and was willing to pay for damages that no charges would be filed against me. I paid over 2000.00 for the damages I had caused to their insurance company.

I now have received felony charges against me. I have never committed a crime previous to this one and will never again. I take full responsibility for my actions but feel a felony is quite harsh since I paid for the damages immediately. I also feel with me turning myself in and explaining my circumstances to the officer and him reassuring me that should count for something in my favor. What is your opinion? Thanks for answering.
 


S

seniorjudge

Guest
jaquarqueen said:
What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state?Minnesota
I keyed a car in a parking lot because I was upset about some things. I realized what I did was wrong and felt awful about it. I went and turned myself into the police. The officer that I spoke with felt that since I had turned myself in, realized my wrong doings and was willing to pay for damages that no charges would be filed against me. I paid over 2000.00 for the damages I had caused to their insurance company.

I now have received felony charges against me. I have never committed a crime previous to this one and will never again. I take full responsibility for my actions but feel a felony is quite harsh since I paid for the damages immediately. I also feel with me turning myself in and explaining my circumstances to the officer and him reassuring me that should count for something in my favor. What is your opinion? Thanks for answering.
Q: What is your opinion?

A: You confessed to committing a felony and now you are charged with a felony. My opinion is that there is a cause and effect here: confession leads to charge. Happens every day....
 

jaquarqueen

Junior Member
Was I charged with a felony because the damage amount was too high for a misdemeanor? What do you think my outcome will be? More monetary damages, probation, community service? Will my honesty after the fact help me at all? Will the fact that my brother died a tragic death, a short time before, in a car fire and I basically just snapped help me at all? Thanks.
 
S

seniorjudge

Guest
parrotmom said:
seniorjudge...was it up to the owner of the car if charges were filed or not? Just curious.
No, a prosecutor does not need a third party's permission to file a case.
 

calatty

Senior Member
The fact that you turned yourself in might result in a more favorable plea bargain or sentence than you otherwise would have gotten, so your honesty might benefit you.
 

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