[Richard31761]

My 13year old son and two friends who spent the night played a prank on a neighborhood boy's house. They toilet papered the trees in their yard late at night. My wife and I found out the next day and sent the 3 boys down to apologise and clean up the mess. Unfortunately, as it turns out the neighborhood boy's father is somewhat of a lunatic. While they were cleaning up the mess, the father corraled one of the boys and kept him in check while strongly encouraging his son to hit him. His son gave that boy a black eye and a welt on the back of his head. My son tried to tell him to stop it, but the father threatened my son, telling him to back off or he would beat him up.

I would like to press charges against this man. Other than the people in their household, the only witnesses were my son and his two friends. Is there anything I can do? If so, what kind of an attorney would I engage?

[cdwjava]

You do not need an attorney to pursue criminal charges - you simply need to report it to the police. Be sure to let the police know how they can contact the witnesses so that they can get their side of the story.

Keep in mind that while the man and his son may well be charged with criminal offenses (likely misdemeanors for battery and child endangerment), the boys who vandalized the home could also be charged for criminal offenses. So, this is likely to end up with criminal charges all around.

- Carl

[Richard31761]

Thank you Carl,
I really appreciate your advice. I did get the police involved right away because I was concerned the situation may escalate - the father was also telling the boys he would come after them with guns. The police individually interviewed the boys and the neighbor. I don't know if there is enough evidence to press charges against the man since it is just his word against the boys. I guess the police report may tell me this. Seems to me what the father did is more deserving of criminal charges than any of the boys, including his son. If the boys get a vandalism charge and have to do community service or something, it may be a lesson well learned, and may be worth it if I can give this guy a wake up call. But I think I will let myself cool down a little before I consider pressing charges.
Regards,
Richard