What Happens if an Adult Boyfriend Helps a Minor Child Run Away from Home

My question involves juvenile law for the state of: Colorado

I'm 14 years old and I have a boyfriend who is 24 and my parents don't approve of us dating so we decided to run away together. My boyfriend has a van in which the back can be used as a makeshift bed so we decided to embark on a road trip to Canada. I waited until my parents went to work, packed up as much as I could into some suitcases then my boyfriend arrived in the van to pick me up. We put my stuff on board and then we headed North towards Canada. Within an hour we were in Wyoming and it was so exciting. We drove for a few more hours then arrived in Montana. I had texted my parents and told them I was at a friends house studying so I figured I had time to get out of the country before they found out what was happening. If i were to make it to Canada there is no legal action my parents take to get me back to Colorado, right?

Anyways I fell asleep eventually and then we stopped at a gas station restaurant to have dinner and fuel up. We were back on the road in about an hour. We continued driving and once it started to get dark out my parents told me to come home. I told them I was staying the night at my friends house and they told me no I had to come home. I was sure I was able to convince them to let me stay so my boyfriend pulled over and shut off the engine and I called my mom. She was silent for a moment then asked "why does it say you're calling from out of state?" i asked her what she was talking about and she said the area code was from another state. I hung up immediately and told my boyfriend we had to haul ass to Canada NOW.

He turned on the engine and drove as fast as he could and we got closer and closer to the border. Then a police car showed up and started chasing us with lights and sirens on. We kept going and when we reached the border it was all blocked off by police and state troopers. I thought we were done for and then my boyfriend veered to the right and crashed right through some bushes to get across the border. I started cheering because we were now safe in Canada. But then the state troopers and police started following us. We kept going but then there was a huge line of traffic with no way around it. My boyfriend slammed on the brakes and in the blink of an eye law enforcement was caught up with us. They pulled my boyfriend out of the van and handcuffed him. While that was happening i was also removed from the vehicle. My boyfriend was arrested and I was told he was in serious criminal trouble and would almost certainly end up in prison. I was put in a car and transported home, and they alerted my parents.

When I got home I was immediately sent to my room. My bedroom door had been taken off, my TV removed, all my makeup and jewelry gone and I had changes of weather appropriate clothing and all the rest of my clothes were gone. I'm posting this from a school computer right now. I'm grounded from all technology and I'm not even allowed to travel to and from school and home without one of my parents.

My questions are:
1. What legal action do me and my boyfriend take now? Law enforcement had no right to follow us across the border and arrest us there.
2. I don't think my parents are innocent here either. They put me in serious danger by reporting me as a runaway because they knew I wasn't just going to come home. I could have been killed in a car accident. Also removing my bedroom door is an invasion of privacy.

Also if you were my parent what would you do about this?

Is this a joke, or have you been watching the story about the Tennessee teacher and his 14 year old student who ran away together and fantasizing? If this happened to be a true situation, you are a very lucky youngster that you are not dead or seriously injured right now. Your twenty four year old boyfriend is very likely incarcerated right now with federal charges pending against him. His life is pretty much over. There is no "me and my boyfriend." And he deserves what he gets for sheer stupidity if nothing else. Google the Mann act while you're sneaking onto the school computers. Your parents are treating you appropriately. You're lucky you're not in juvenile custody right now. Don't do anything stupid or you will soon move to a place which has even less privacy and amenities.

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Quoting comment/ator

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Is this a joke, .

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Post history, my dear.

You are so right! This one has juvie in her future no matter what we say here. :)

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Quoting Dogmatique

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Post history, my dear.

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You would think as quickly as they have been swatting down the spam infestation, management might take a swipe at the troll brigade that has also been setting up shop.

Oh, I just have to respond to this one.

If i were to make it to Canada there is no legal action my parents take to get me back to Colorado, right? You have GOT to be kidding. You are (if we take you at your word, which I'm by no means sure we should do), 14 years old. Your parents OWN you. They have every legal right to drag you home from Canada or Mexico or Indonesia.

1. What legal action do me and my boyfriend take now? Law enforcement had no right to follow us across the border and arrest us there. You take no legal action at all. Law enforcement had EVERY right to follow you and bring you back home from wherever your little underage behind was when it wasn't supposed to be there. Your "boyfriend" needs a criminal attorney first, and a psychologist to figure out why, at 24, he is attracted to 14 year old girls, second.

2. I don't think my parents are innocent here either. They put me in serious danger by reporting me as a runaway because they knew I wasn't just going to come home. I could have been killed in a car accident. Also removing my bedroom door is an invasion of privacy. But you see, child, it isn't your choice whether or not to come home. It's THEIR choice whether you come home or not. You weren't killed in a car accident, so that's no argument. And at 14, you are entitled to exactly the privacy your parents want you to have and no more.

Also if you were my parent what would you do about this? Exactly what your parents did. Right down to taking away your clothing and taking you to school.

In fact, if I were the cynical type, I'd think that they (or maybe you, since I'm really by no means convinced this is real) had been reading some of my prior posts where I recommended that parents of runaway children like you do exactly that.

Well, before this one chokes on her "lollipops", maybe we should talk about the "Garden Of Eden" parenting style.

Perfect in this case, don't you think?

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Quoting whathappensafter

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If i were to make it to Canada there is no legal action my parents take to get me back to Colorado, right?

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Wrong. Your parents could indeed have the Canadian authorities return you to the U.S. In Canada, just as in the U.S., you are a minor and subject to the control of your parents. Canada might also extradite your boyfriend to face criminal charges for this little escapade, too. Assuming that it really happened. And I have my doubts, based in part on this:

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Quoting whathappensafter

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I was sure I was able to convince them to let me stay so my boyfriend pulled over and shut off the engine and I called my mom. She was silent for a moment then asked "why does it say you're calling from out of state?" i asked her what she was talking about and she said the area code was from another state. I hung up immediately and told my boyfriend we had to haul ass to Canada NOW.

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If you called them from your cell phone (which is what your post implies and what you should have done if you were thinking at all) then the telephone number (including the area code) that would show up is the one assigned to your phone. You evidently don't realize that the area code on a cell phone call is not based on where you are calling from, but is always the number assigned to the phone. Had you called from your cell phone, all your parents would have seen is the same number they’ve always associated with your cell phone. There’d be no way she’d see some unknown area code and conclude you were out-of-state. This slip up in your story tells me you’ve made it all up. If you are going to make things up, you better at least understand how things really work so you don’t make such an obvious mistake that reveals the lie.

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Quoting whathappensafter

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He turned on the engine and drove as fast as he could and we got closer and closer to the border.Then a police car showed up and started chasing us with lights and sirens on.

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This is also suspect in your story. Even if your mother had been alerted that you were out-of-state, there is no way they’d have known exactly where you were. It’s very unlikely that the cops would have known to be looking for your boyfriends van in that area of Montana. (Do your parents even know the plate number of your boyfriend’s van? I’d be surprised if they did unless they were keeping tabs on it to take out an order of protection against him.) So more than likely if this story were true that cop would be trying to stop you for a traffic violation (speeding, probably). The smart thing to do would have been to stop, take the ticket, and move on. Fleeing the cop is a good way to get a whole bunch of charges tacked on.

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Quoting whathappensafter

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When I got home I was immediately sent to my room. My bedroom door had been taken off, my TV removed, all my makeup and jewelry gone and I had changes of weather appropriate clothing and all the rest of my clothes were gone. I'm posting this from a school computer right now. I'm grounded from all technology and I'm not even allowed to travel to and from school and home without one of my parents.

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If this story is true, then all I can say is cheers to your parents for doing the right thing and exercising parental control over an out-of-control teen. It sounds very much like you have a mind set that will get you into a lot of trouble.

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Quoting whathappensafter

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1. What legal action do me and my boyfriend take now? Law enforcement had no right to follow us across the border and arrest us there.

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Your boyfriend can ask his lawyer what effect the arrest in Canada (if, in fact, that is where it occurred) would have on any pending charges he has. As for you, there is no legal action you can take. None of your rights were violated.

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Quoting whathappensafter

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2. I don't think my parents are innocent here either. They put me in serious danger by reporting me as a runaway because they knew I wasn't just going to come home. I could have been killed in a car accident. Also removing my bedroom door is an invasion of privacy.

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Your parents have every right to report you as a run away or missing. If you were killed in a car accident, that is not their fault, it would be the fault of your boyfriend’s bad driving. And as a minor, you have no particular right to privacy in your home. Your parents are free to remove the bedroom doors and observe what you do to ensure you are following their rules, and in particular to make sure you aren’t finding some way to communicate with your boyfriend. As I said in another post, there is something seriously wrong with a 24 year-old man wanting to be with a 14 year-old girl. Your parents apparently know that too, and are doing what is needed to protect you from him. No court will take issue with that, particularly if the episode you described had really happened.

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Quoting whathappensafter

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Also if you were my parent what would you do about this?

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I’d do what they did plus file in court for an order of protection prohibiting your boyfriend from having any kind of contact with you at all and ensuring he keeps well away from home and school. I'd also arrange for the school to monitor all your use of computers and prohibit you from using any e-mail and chat services while on a school computer.

In addition to the holes Taxing Matters found, there is another larger one. How does a minor pass border control into Canada? Obviously, no driver's license so that is out for ID. Maybe a passport, but most kids in Colorado do not have passports. Maybe a birth certificate, but most kids don't have their original birth certificate, the parents put them is a secure location as a valuable document. Even with a passport/birth certificate, it identifies you as a minor and to prevent child trafficking Canada will not allow a minor into their country without a parent being present (with few exceptions). There is no way they could have gotten into Canada legally. And having been there, other than at the actual border checkpoint, I cannot see there being significant traffic on any road in either country near the Montana/Canadian border at night.

If a quarter of all of what she has posted is true, she is setting herself up for a tough life.

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Quoting joef

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In addition to the holes Taxing Matters found, there is another larger one. How does a minor pass border control into Canada? Obviously, no driver's license so that is out for ID. Maybe a passport, but most kids in Colorado do not have passports. Maybe a birth certificate, but most kids don't have their original birth certificate, the parents put them is a secure location as a valuable document. Even with a passport/birth certificate, it identifies you as a minor and to prevent child trafficking Canada will not allow a minor into their country without a parent being present (with few exceptions). There is no way they could have gotten into Canada legally. And having been there, other than at the actual border checkpoint, I cannot see there being significant traffic on any road in either country near the Montana/Canadian border at night.

If a quarter of all of what she has posted is true, she is setting herself up for a tough life.

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You guys are being all sensible and stuff.

That's not what the lollipop-loving OP wants.

LOL True or not, what an amusing way to start the weekend!

Little girl - be glad you are not my child. Be very, very glad.

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Quoting jumanji

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LOL True or not, what an amusing way to start the weekend!

Little girl - be glad you are not my child. Be very, very glad.

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If this OP was your child, he or she wouldn't be making such a fool of themselves online in the first place.

Posting from my dads phone here. He left it at home, my mother is still asleep.

I found out that my parents actually did know my boyfriends vans license plate. They were planning on getting a restraining order against him. After this incident, they did. I'm poisoned at them for trying to control who myself, a young adult, can have contact with. Is there any way I can get the restraining order lifted? I mean theres no way they could have a restraining order against him without my consent since I'm the person thats being protected in the first place. If I say my boyfriend is safe for me to be talking to then the judge will likely agree.

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Quoting whathappensafter

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Posting from my dads phone here. He left it at home, my mother is still asleep.

I found out that my parents actually did know my boyfriends vans license plate. They were planning on getting a restraining order against him. After this incident, they did. I'm poisoned at them for trying to control who myself, a young adult, can have contact with. Is there any way I can get the restraining order lifted? I mean theres no way they could have a restraining order against him without my consent since I'm the person thats being protected in the first place. If I say my boyfriend is safe for me to be talking to then the judge will likely agree.

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A 14 year old is not a young adult. A 14 year old is a minor CHILD who has no rights of their own. No, you cannot get the restraining order lifted. Your consent was never needed. The judge will NEVER agree to allow your boyfriend anywhere near you, until you are a legal adult.

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Quoting whathappensafter

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Posting from my dads phone here. He left it at home, my mother is still asleep.

I found out that my parents actually did know my boyfriends vans license plate. They were planning on getting a restraining order against him. After this incident, they did. I'm poisoned at them for trying to control who myself, a young adult, can have contact with. Is there any way I can get the restraining order lifted? I mean theres no way they could have a restraining order against him without my consent since I'm the person thats being protected in the first place. If I say my boyfriend is safe for me to be talking to then the judge will likely agree.

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First point, you are not an adult. An adult in Colorado is person age 18 or older. You are still a minor at age 14 and under the control of your parents. Second, because you are a minor, your parents act in your interests and thus do not need your consent to file for an order of protection against your boyfriend, and no judge will lift that order based on your request. Third point, you are not in a very good position to determine whether your boyfriend poses a risk of harm to you. Any adult male who would take a 14 year-old girl away from home to shack up with her in Canada is indeed a danger to that girl. That could have messed up your life in a number of ways that you have not even begun to consider. You don’t know nearly as much as you think you do, a common problem with teens, who tend to think they know everything. The courts are going to defer to your parents on this, not to you, since your parents are the ones who are presumed to know what is best for you.

And you think posting from your dad’s phone is a good idea? Good lord, you have a lot to learn.

If this is true, I'm surprised the boyfriend wasn't arrested.

Be glad you are not my child or the child of countless other parents. You wouldn't have access to a phone, internet or anything but food, water and a roof over your head for a long, long time.You are a child and your actions and thoughts are that of a child.

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Quoting whathappensafter

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My question involves juvenile law for the state of: Colorado

I'm 14 years old and I have a boyfriend who is 24 and my parents don't approve of us dating so we decided to run away together. My boyfriend has a van in which the back can be used as a makeshift bed so we decided to embark on a road trip to Canada. I waited until my parents went to work, packed up as much as I could into some suitcases then my boyfriend arrived in the van to pick me up. We put my stuff on board and then we headed North towards Canada. Within an hour we were in Wyoming and it was so exciting. We drove for a few more hours then arrived in Montana. I had texted my parents and told them I was at a friends house studying so I figured I had time to get out of the country before they found out what was happening. If i were to make it to Canada there is no legal action my parents take to get me back to Colorado, right?

Anyways I fell asleep eventually and then we stopped at a gas station restaurant to have dinner and fuel up. We were back on the road in about an hour. We continued driving and once it started to get dark out my parents told me to come home. I told them I was staying the night at my friends house and they told me no I had to come home. I was sure I was able to convince them to let me stay so my boyfriend pulled over and shut off the engine and I called my mom. She was silent for a moment then asked "why does it say you're calling from out of state?" i asked her what she was talking about and she said the area code was from another state. I hung up immediately and told my boyfriend we had to haul ass to Canada NOW.

He turned on the engine and drove as fast as he could and we got closer and closer to the border. Then a police car showed up and started chasing us with lights and sirens on. We kept going and when we reached the border it was all blocked off by police and state troopers. I thought we were done for and then my boyfriend veered to the right and crashed right through some bushes to get across the border. I started cheering because we were now safe in Canada. But then the state troopers and police started following us. We kept going but then there was a huge line of traffic with no way around it. My boyfriend slammed on the brakes and in the blink of an eye law enforcement was caught up with us. They pulled my boyfriend out of the van and handcuffed him. While that was happening i was also removed from the vehicle. My boyfriend was arrested and I was told he was in serious criminal trouble and would almost certainly end up in prison. I was put in a car and transported home, and they alerted my parents.

When I got home I was immediately sent to my room. My bedroom door had been taken off, my TV removed, all my makeup and jewelry gone and I had changes of weather appropriate clothing and all the rest of my clothes were gone. I'm posting this from a school computer right now. I'm grounded from all technology and I'm not even allowed to travel to and from school and home without one of my parents.

My questions are:
1. What legal action do me and my boyfriend take now? Law enforcement had no right to follow us across the border and arrest us there.
2. I don't think my parents are innocent here either. They put me in serious danger by reporting me as a runaway because they knew I wasn't just going to come home. I could have been killed in a car accident. Also removing my bedroom door is an invasion of privacy.

Also if you were my parent what would you do about this?

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This isn't real is it? Because if this really happened - your boyfriend is in a WORLD of trouble and you are likely never going to see him again. You nor your boyfriend can take any legal action against anyone. You are a minor - you cannot consent to anything.

Your parents did what any parent would do who gives a crap about their kid - reported the kid as a runaway and with an older man.

If I was your parent I'd make sure you didn't see the light of day for awhile. No phones, no electronics, no social media, no friends. School and home. That's it. You would for sure regret ever doing what you did. I also would make it my mission that your weird man boyfriend would never ever come near you for the next four years until you were an adult. In fact, I would have the school monitor your Internet use somehow.

LMAO! You think you get a right to privacy in your parents' home? They don't have to let you have a door at all. Privacy is a privilege you get to earn back.

Oh I checked post history - this is the troll that likes to make up ridiculous stories.

Is there any way I can get the restraining order lifted? No.

I mean theres no way they could have a restraining order against him without my consent since I'm the person thats being protected in the first place. Your consent is not required or relevant. Since you are a minor (I mean, when we pretend to believe you) you cannot legally consent anyway.

If I say my boyfriend is safe for me to be talking to then the judge will likely agree. You'll be lucky if the only thing the judge does is laugh in your face.

Oh I will definitely see him again. We are in love and we will make this work even if he's behind bars for years.

And since I'm on my dad's phone I delete the history of this page. And even if he did se I'm using it I doubt he would be mad because I'm looking for legal help for myself and my boyfriend.

And does anyone else think its stupid they took my makeup and jewelry? What does that stuff have to do with anything? Its not like I can use those things to break any rules.

I'm still not convinced US law enforcement had any right to follow us across the border into Canada. I mean we crossed the border. In the game Red Dead Redemption, you can cross the US/Mexican border while the police are chasing you but once you cross the border the police have to give up. I'm going to tell the judge this.

Punishment is taking away things you want and things you want to do among other things.

TV and movies are entertainment. Entertainment is not facts.

Gosh, at this rate I might file a formal complaint. This brand of entertainment is boring and not even vaguely funny. It lacks intelligence and humor, and I therefore deem this OP's offerings unacceptable, and a complete failure.

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Quoting whathappensafter

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I'm still not convinced US law enforcement had any right to follow us across the border into Canada. I mean we crossed the border. In the game Red Dead Redemption, you can cross the US/Mexican border while the police are chasing you but once you cross the border the police have to give up. I'm going to tell the judge this.

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Games are entertainment, not real life. Like I said earlier, your boyfriend can ask his lawyer if the arrest in Canada (assuming that is really where it took place) would give him anything to work with in his defense on any criminal charges he’s facing. But there is nothing you can do if you aren’t facing criminal charges out of this. Your rights were not violated.

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Quoting whathappensafter

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I'm still not convinced US law enforcement had any right to follow us across the border into Canada. I mean we crossed the border.

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OK, ill bite. What makes you think you crossed the border? What road were you on or the last town you went through before the border? What did the border look like? Any buildings, houses, stores near it?

Without these details I do not believe ANYTHING about your lame story.

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Quoting joef

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OK, ill bite. What makes you think you crossed the border?

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Well when we got to the border security checkpoint that was blocked off by police and state troopers, my boyfriend took a sharp right turn and crashed through some bushes and other vegetation and we managed to pass security. So we passed the checkpoint and were able to drive as fast as we could for a few more minutes.

Can we please stop feeding the troll?

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Quoting free9man

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Can we please stop feeding the troll?

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Just reviewed the posting history.

Major troll...my favorite thread is the one about the cat shoplifting.

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Quoting llworking

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Major troll...my favorite thread is the one about the cat shoplifting.

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That's what happens when you don't raise your pets up to know the difference between right and wrong. They get on the catnip and wind up stealing treats to feed their habit.

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Quoting free9man

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That's what happens when you don't raise your pets up to know the difference between right and wrong. They get on the catnip and wind up stealing treats to feed their habit.

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I think I love you a little bit for this response.

:D :D :D

(my laptop screen, not so much)

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Quoting Dogmatique

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If this OP was your child, he or she wouldn't be making such a fool of themselves online in the first place.

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True Dat.

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Quoting free9man

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Can we please stop feeding the troll?

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But we're discussing important things like laptop care! :o :p

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Quoting whathappensafter

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Posting from my dads phone here. He left it at home, my mother is still asleep.

I found out that my parents actually did know my boyfriends vans license plate. They were planning on getting a restraining order against him. After this incident, they did. I'm poisoned at them for trying to control who myself, a young adult, can have contact with. Is there any way I can get the restraining order lifted? I mean theres no way they could have a restraining order against him without my consent since I'm the person thats being protected in the first place. If I say my boyfriend is safe for me to be talking to then the judge will likely agree.

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IF you are really 14, you are a minor. You have no rights. You can't do anything. Yes they can file a restraining order against him. They are your parents. He is an adult.

No judge would lift a restraining order placed against a 24 year old man who had ran off with a 14 year old. None. Ever. Never.

How's life under the bridge by the way?

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Quoting whathappensafter

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Oh I will definitely see him again. We are in love and we will make this work even if he's behind bars for years.

And since I'm on my dad's phone I delete the history of this page. And even if he did se I'm using it I doubt he would be mad because I'm looking for legal help for myself and my boyfriend.

And does anyone else think its stupid they took my makeup and jewelry? What does that stuff have to do with anything? Its not like I can use those things to break any rules.

I'm still not convinced US law enforcement had any right to follow us across the border into Canada. I mean we crossed the border. In the game Red Dead Redemption, you can cross the US/Mexican border while the police are chasing you but once you cross the border the police have to give up. I'm going to tell the judge this.

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Have you ever sought mental counseling?

What would happen if we ran away together again? Maybe this time we could take a plane to ensure we'll get away with it this time.

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Quoting whathappensafter

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What would happen if we ran away together again? Maybe this time we could take a plane to ensure we'll get away with it this time.

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A mentally unstable "child" will never "get away" with any such idea.

HTH.

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Quoting whathappensafter

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What would happen if we ran away together again? Maybe this time we could take a plane to ensure we'll get away with it this time.

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You could expect that your parents would have you brought home when found wherever it is you went and that your boyfriend would get to find a new love life while in prison for a long time. And if I were your parents, I would have you watched literally 24/7 until you turned 18. You wouldn’t have a moment of privacy outside the bathroom. And yes, it would be perfectly legal for your parents to do it.

Could I get emancipated? I think the judge would allow it when he hears my parents have removed my bedroom door. I mean how am I supposed to get changed.

Colorado has no emancipation statute.

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Quoting Dogmatique

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I think I love you a little bit for this response.

:D :D :D

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Awww...shucks. :o

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Quoting Dogmatique

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(my laptop screen, not so much)

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Hope your screen is doing better.

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Quoting whathappensafter

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Could I get emancipated? I think the judge would allow it when he hears my parents have removed my bedroom door.

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Colorado is a state that does not offer any way to get a judicial declaration of emancipation. In Colorado, in certain situations you might be able to assert emancipation if you were already living independently from your parents and were self supporting — being supported by your 24 year-old boyfriend wouldn’t cut it. In short, in Colorado you can’t pursue emancipation as a way to get out from under your parents’ control. Rather, once you are already independently living on your own you can assert you are emancipated when the need for that arises.

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Quoting whathappensafter

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I mean how am I supposed to get changed.

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Take your clothes into the bathroom and change there. If you can’t figure out simple stuff out like that then you would not cut it living on your own. Be grateful you have parents to feed and clothe you.

What would happen if I made fake adoption papers, my boyfriend escaped jail and we used the adoption papers to make it look like he's my legal guardian and then we left the country on a plane?

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Quoting whathappensafter

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Could I get emancipated? I think the judge would allow it when he hears my parents have removed my bedroom door. I mean how am I supposed to get changed.

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There is only one state that will even consider emancipating a 14 year old; that state is not Colorado; even in the one state that will occasionally consider it you would not qualify. Change in the bathroom.

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Quoting whathappensafter

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What would happen if I made fake adoption papers, my boyfriend escaped jail and we used the adoption papers to make it look like he's my legal guardian and then we left the country on a plane?

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Okay, that's it. Enough already.