Minor Stole My Alcohol - Now I'm Accused of Providing It

My question involves criminal law for the state of: Louisiana
I left a bag containing alcohol on my front porch. A minor stole the bag. I was awakened at 2am by a police officer.
I told him I had accidentally left it outside by the door.
He left and I went back to sleep.
Now, they want me to turn myself in for contributing to a minor alcohol.
What are my rights?

You have the right to remain silent ... I would recommend you consult an attorney ASAP.

I suspect that the minor who took the alcohol through you under the bus for supplying him (or her) with the booze. It's a pretty weak story (even on the off chance it is true) to claim that you left a bag with booze on your porch and this kid just HAPPENED to find it. Expect the same skepticism from a judge and jury.

I would be very skeptical of this story, too.

Was this a screened in porch or open? If open, your story is really not going to be credible. Most people take their stuff inside immediately....
....and again, this teen just happened to be going door to to door looking for a porch with booze left out on the porch....not likely.

The reason it was left on the porch was because I carried in a bunch of groceries and thought I brought it in. We live in a trailer park. The porch is not screened in.

Next time you will want to come up with a better story. This one is a loser.


and if you forgot it and left it on your porch, how do you know you left it on the porch and not in your car or at the store? The fact you knew it was on the porch shows you did not forget it but intentionally left it there.

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Quoting Alp71963

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The reason it was left on the porch was because I carried in a bunch of groceries and thought I brought it in. We live in a trailer park. The porch is not screened in.

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And the odds of some kid just randomly passing by and walking up on your porch is still minuscule.

Do you know if the minor threw you under the bus? Do you even know the kid who had the alcohol?

As suggested, consult legal counsel and do not speak to the police without an attorney present.

This is what is going to happen in court:

So the one bag you left outside just happened to contain alcohol?

And the alcohol just happened to be found by this minor going door to door looking for someone who left alcohol on their porch?

And since you purchased alcohol with the intent to drink it...you did not notice it missing when you put your groceries away?

See what we are saying?

Safe to say, there's more to the minor's story than we've been given so far.

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Quoting cdwjava

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You have the right to remain silent ... I would recommend you consult an attorney ASAP.

I suspect that the minor who took the alcohol through you under the bus for supplying him (or her) with the booze. It's a pretty weak story (even on the off chance it is true) to claim that you left a bag with booze on your porch and this kid just HAPPENED to find it. Expect the same skepticism from a judge and jury.

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Yup. As someone who depends on taxis to get the groceries home most weeks, I'm finding this story to be pretty weaksauce. My own routine is to unload the groceries onto the front porch, go inside, put the dogs in the back yard, then bring all of the groceries in. I certainly notice if I'm missing a bag, and doubly so if it's a bag of booze. That stuff is EXPENSIVE!

OP, you really, really, really need to shut up - no, seriously, stop talking about this - and get an attorney. You're in some steamy water, bub.

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Quoting jk

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Next time you will want to come up with a better story. This one is a loser.


and if you forgot it and left it on your porch, how do you know you left it on the porch and not in your car or at the store? The fact you knew it was on the porch shows you did not forget it but intentionally left it there.

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I live in a household w 5 other people. The 2 fifths were to bring on an out of town trip. I do alot of cooking on the grill... And sit outside to drink. Friday night, was my sisters birthday... She turned 14. In the excitement of a van load full rushing inside w cake and birthday party stuff (no drinking at that party... Children present, all family members) I sat it by the door, to grab later when I packed my bag... Figured it'd be safe...
There are several groups of minors living in the park. I do not know the kid who took it. My sister knows his friend. They are 15.
Appreciate all the help... Thanks! Am looking for legal laws not moral judgements. Have never had this happen before and am surprised a strange kid's mom can press charges on me bc her son sneaked onto our porch!

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Quoting Alp71963

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I was awakened at 2am by a police officer.
I told him I had accidentally left it outside by the door.

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Quoting Alp71963

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I sat it by the door, to grab later when I packed my bag... Figured it'd be safe...

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That's not what you told the police officer.

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Quoting Alp71963

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Have never had this happen before and am surprised a strange kid's mom can press charges on me bc her son sneaked onto our porch!

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The charges are being filed by a prosecutor, not the mother. Presumably junior got drunk and did something stupid, hence the prior police visit and the charge.

Liar Liar, Pants on Fire.

You've given us two stories already:

"The reason it was left on the porch was because I carried in a bunch of groceries and thought I brought it in"

and

"I sat it by the door, to grab later when I packed my bag..."

and to make it better..."There are several groups of minors living in the park". So you leave booze where the minors can easily get it? And they somehow choose your porch over everyone elses....

Have fun in court. The judge and prosecutor will have a field day with you. You need to call a lawyer TODAY.

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I sat it by the door, to grab later when I packed my bag... Figured it'd be safe...

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You are really not clear on the concept of "Stop talking about this and talk to an attorney", are you? You just incriminated yourself in front of the whole bleeding internet. Do you have any idea how many people you just took responsibility in front of? That was really dumb.

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Have never had this happen before and am surprised a strange kid's mom can press charges on me bc her son sneaked onto our porch!

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You admit freely that you left a bag of booze visible in an unsecured, easily accessible location. I don't think you could even get him for trespassing.

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Am looking for legal laws not moral judgements.

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Liquor laws in every state hold you responsible if you don't keep your booze out of reach of minors. If you think we're mean, wait til you get a load of what the judge will have to say to you. You won't like it, not one little bit, and if you get all shirty about "moral judgments" at the judge, you're going to get the tongue lashing of your life.

One more time: STFU and retain counsel.

One wonders, why did the kid who was caught with the booze say, "I got the booze from 'Alp71963'", not "I got it from Alp71963's little sister," or "....from Alp71963's parents", or "...from one of the other people who lived in Alp71963's home"? How did he know that it was your booze?

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Quoting Alp71963

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Have never had this happen before and am surprised a strange kid's mom can press charges on me bc her son sneaked onto our porch!

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How do you know mom requested you be charged? Chances are junior said you gave it to him. Unless, of course, your state has a law that requires you to secure alcohol. The state will have to show that you provided the alcohol to the minor. If the kid denies it and admits to stealing it, then you should be in the clear. But, if he says you gave it to him, you will have a harder time.

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Alp71963;662413]I live in a household w 5 other people. The 2 fifths were to bring on an out of town trip. I do alot of cooking on the grill... And sit outside to drink. Friday night, was my sisters birthday... She turned 14. In the excitement of a van load full rushing inside w cake and birthday party stuff (no drinking at that party... Children present, all family members) I sat it by the door, to grab later when I packed my bag... Figured it'd be safe...

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safe compared to something like putting it in a cupboard inside?


do you realize that even if you did actually and innocently leave the booze on the step, you could still be liable if a kid drank it and was injured or injured somebody or somebody else's property, right?

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There are several groups of minors living in the park. I do not know the kid who took it. My sister knows his friend. They are 15.

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Especially since you are aware of several groups of minors in the park that apparently roam about looking for booze people leave on their front porch, you could be in serious trouble for doing it.

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Appreciate all the help... Thanks! Am looking for legal laws not moral judgements.

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Legal laws? Is there anything else? you have already been told that you could be in serious trouble. You need a lawyer.

Oh, it's more than he "could be" in trouble, he is. Apparently the police are already looking to charge him. His story is difficult to swallow, and even if true it will be a hard sell to a prosecutor, or a judge and jury. However, if there is NO evidence to show that he gave the alcohol to the kid, then maybe he'll be okay. If the kid admits that he stole it off the porch without the OP's knowledge, then i doubt he'll be charged. But, if it is as I suspect and the kid (or someone) is alleging that the OP knowingly provided it, then he's in trouble.

Again, I wonder...how did these minors arrive on HIS porch, undetected....and not a neighbors....

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Quoting PandorasBox

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Again, I wonder...how did these minors arrive on HIS porch, undetected....and not a neighbors....

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That's the mystery! And how would they have known that a small bag on the porch was alcohol, and that it was safe to snag it off of a porch occupied by 5 people? It just seems odd.

And of all bags to leave on the porch...and with 2 different reasons why....

He needs a lawyer. And dude...you have to be HONEST with your lawyer. If not, if your lawyer detects a lie, or finds you lied...he can drop you and keep your retainer.

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Quoting Alp71963

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Have never had this happen before and am surprised a strange kid's mom can press charges on me bc her son sneaked onto our porch!

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If he snuck onto your porch, then press charges for theft and possibly burglary charges.

Because those are the charges the police officer told him he will be facing if he didn't give up whom gave him the alcohol.

Thanks to all for your help... I believe the guys may have come up to knock on the door to say hello to 14 yr old sister for her bday... Saw the bag by my chair... Nabbed it and left... This is southern Louisiana, Friday night, trailer park...
At this point I do not know if kids were arrested for possession? If mom found them w it? Idk? I've spoken w my attorney and he says don't talk to police without his presence.
All I know is police woke me at 2am asking if I furnished said alcohol.
Guess will find out more details this week. The kid who took it is a friend of my sis's friend. I know sis's friend, his parents, his brother for years. Do not know the accuser or if his mom pressed charges or if he was busted by cops.
Again, thanks to all for responses, much appreciated!

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Quoting Who'sThatGuy

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If he snuck onto your porch, then press charges for theft and possibly burglary charges.

Because those are the charges the police officer told him he will be facing if he didn't give up whom gave him the alcohol.

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This is what I think happened... Thanks for reply!

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Mainly because the rest of the family are churchgoers and abstain. I'm the only drinker in the house.

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Quoting Mr. Knowitall

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One wonders, why did the kid who was caught with the booze say, "I got the booze from 'Alp71963'", not "I got it from Alp71963's little sister," or "....from Alp71963's parents", or "...from one of the other people who lived in Alp71963's home"? How did he know that it was your booze?

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Sorry for repeat reply! As stated... I am the only drinker in the house! Everyone else = good upstanding Christians!!!

Every time you say something you place a shovel in the ground and make your hole deeper.

You state that you don't know the kid who found the alcohol, but he seems to know everything about you.

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I'm the only drinker in the house.

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I give up.

I cannot make it any more clear than SHUT UP. Words don't come in less than a syllable.

"Because those are the charges the police officer told him he will be facing if he didn't give up whom gave him the alcohol."

But if that happened...he sure was not honest enough to say "I went on to the guys porch and stole it".

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Quoting cdwjava

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And the odds of some kid just randomly passing by and walking up on your porch is still minuscule.

Do you know if the minor threw you under the bus? Do you even know the kid who had the alcohol?

As suggested, consult legal counsel and do not speak to the police without an attorney present.

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I actually buy his story to a great degree.

I have more than once emptied my car of groceries, onto the porch, and then managed to forget a bag getting them into the house. Heck I have managed to leave one in the car before too. I have also more than once had something stolen from my porch. I don't think that the odds of some random teenager checking out someone's porch for something to steal is miniscule at all.

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Quoting llworking

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I actually buy his story to a great degree.

I have more than once emptied my car of groceries, onto the porch, and then managed to forget a bag getting them into the house. Heck I have managed to leave one in the car before too. I have also more than once had something stolen from my porch. I don't think that the odds of some random teenager checking out someone's porch for something to steal is miniscule at all.

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yet, at first, he claims he forgot the booze on the porch. Later he said he intentionally left it on the porch.

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The reason it was left on the porch was because I carried in a bunch of groceries and thought I brought it in. We live in a trailer park. The porch is not screened in.

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I sat it by the door, to grab later when I packed my bag... Figured it'd be safe...

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so, which story do you want to believe? The one where he simply forgot about it while carrying in groceries or the one where he intentionally left it there (for some unknown reason) and intended on later packing it into his bag.

OP's veracity is nil at this point.