Using Direct Filing to Bribe Teens to Plead Guilty

My question involves juvenile law in the State of: Florida
My 16 year old son loaned an unloaded gun to two other teens (ages 15 and 17) who then robbed someone with it. My son did not participate in the robbery. The procecutor gave him the choice of pleading guilty to Armed Robbery and remain in Juvenile Court, waive a trial and be immediately placed into a maximum security detention facility for 18 months or he would be direct filed to Adult Court. So he would only receive a fair trial if he went to Adult Court. The teen that committed the armed robbery received a high-risk facility for 9 to 12 months because he was 15 at the time. His 17 year old accomplice received 18 months in a Maximum Security Facility. Adult Court would mean a year in Adult Jail waiting for a trial and an adult arrest record even if we won the case. He loaned a gun to someone and should be punished accordingly. He did not commit Armed Robbery. How can the court get away with bribery like this. It seems a quick way for the Juvenile Prosecutor to quickly get the maximum punishment without having to waste time on a trial.

Sounds as if your son was actually considered an accessory.

What is his attorney saying?

(And frankly he's lucky he's not being charged as an accessory to murder or similar)

His attorney recommended taking the deal. We feel we have no choice. The armed robbery was a prank against one of the two boys' friends and talk of it got to the police and everyone was arrested even though the victim did not want to press charges. This enire system seems like a Juvenile Prosecutor Loophole to circumvent a trial and appears to me to be a major flaw in the law.

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Quoting juststein

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His attorney recommended taking the deal. We feel we have no choice. The armed robbery was a prank against one of the two boys' friends and talk of it got to the police and everyone was arrested even though the victim did not want to press charges.

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Clearly the boy knew what was going to happen or could have happened ... funny prank ..

I honestly don't mean offense here but it's not the system at fault when you have one teen giving a gun to two other teens who then go and rob someone...at gunpoint.

That's really not the system at fault, nor is that a prank. A prank is hiding someone's shoes after football practice. Pointing a gun at someone - loaded or not - is just not a prank.

Regardless, it's your son's attorney you need to talk to.

I totally understand. My son deserves punishment and he will be getting it. His fate is sealed and I'm not trying to prove him innocent. I just have a problem with using Direct Filing as a bribing tool to get a teen to plead guilty to something other than what he actually did. Apparently this is standard practice in certain states and I don't agree with it.

That is what is known as Plea Bargaining...not bribery. Your son's attorney knows how the system works and is in the best position to advocate on behalf of your son. If those are the two best (realistically speaking) options offered then it is up to your son to pick one. Let's hope he does not make another bad decision. What you like or dislike is immaterial.