Minor Unknowingly Bought a Knife to School

My question involves juvenile law in the State of: New Jersey
I am a minor, 13 years old.

Alright, so I was detained / held a few months ago for possession of a weapon on school grounds, which is a Class 4 Crime in NJ. Although, I did not know I had it in my possession. It was inside of my gym bag as I was walking around the school. Now, the only reason I had it on me was because I went flying the night before with my dad, and a pocket knife is an extremely important part of flying since a seat belt can get stuck in an emergency. I had used the same bag for it as my gym clothes and forgot to remove it before school the next day.

So, as my class for gym was changing, one of my friends who I will not name, saw the knife through a small mesh netting stripe in the bag. He went over to my locker, grabbed the knife out of it, and started to scratch things into the wall. About 15 seconds went by after telling him to give it back and put it away, then a gym teacher walked in and saw him scratching the wall with it, me and another person were standing near him, so we were all called down in an investigation. The vice principal interviewed the others before me and then called me in. He said the others had said it was mine, so I admitted to it, but explained my story just as above. He didn't care though, as the school has a no - tolerance policy. After that, I was put in handcuffs digging into my skin and thrown into the back of a police car in front of students as it was just after school, gym is my last period of the day. After being sat inside of a room at the police station, they asked me to give them my info. So I did that, and shortly after, my dad came to pick me up.

I was issued a 21 day suspension, but I contacted a lawyer and reduced it to 5, and the school said they would not prosecute, yet I guess they did and I have just received a docket from the Superior Court of New Jersey - Family Part. Now, I have no clue what this means if I'm going to a legit court or some family court.

I have no idea what is going to happen, or what the judge may say, I'm going to try to get a lawyer soon. Would the judge be able to put me in a juvenile center if this was purely accidental? Is there anything I need to know before going to juvenile court? Thanks for all replies in advance.

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Quoting ABAnonymous

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, I have no clue what this means if I'm going to a legit court or some family court.

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Read this.

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Quoting ABAnonymous

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I have no idea what is going to happen, or what the judge may say, I'm going to try to get a lawyer soon.

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Read this.

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Quoting ABAnonymous

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Would the judge be able to put me in a juvenile center if this was purely accidental?

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The judge does not have to believe your claim of accident, or that you weren't involved in the act of vandalism.

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Quoting ABAnonymous

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Although, I did not know I had it in my possession. It was inside of my gym bag as I was walking around the school. Now, the only reason I had it on me was because I went flying the night before with my dad, and a pocket knife is an extremely important part of flying since a seat belt can get stuck in an emergency. I had used the same bag for it as my gym clothes and forgot to remove it before school the next day.

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OK, let's see. You're flying, your plane crashes, you're stuck in your seat because your seat belt is jammed and you need you knife to cut your seat belt.

You don't wear your backpack when seated while flying, so it's somewhere else in the plane. If you're trapped in your seat becasuse your belt is jammed, how do you get out to find your backpack and rummage around in it for your knife (if your backpack has not already been thrown from the plane in the crash)?

I don't think anyone is going to buy your story about how you "inadvertently" brought your knife to school. Time to go for Plan B.

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Quoting ABAnonymous

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Now, the only reason I had it on me was because I went flying the night before with my dad, and a pocket knife is an extremely important part of flying since a seat belt can get stuck in an emergency.

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Your Dad didn't have a knife on him (or in the plane) the night before?

Let me add..... My ex is a private pilot and we flew extensively (as did our kids with him after we split), and a pocket knife was really not a vital part of our individual kits. Sure, there was one in the emergency kit, but neither of us carried one in our own stuff.

Sorry, but your story just doesn't ring true. (And..... didn't your Dad corroborate it when he picked you up? Or with the lawyer he's hired to represent you? Is he planning to testify about it on your behalf?)

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Quoting L-1

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OK, let's see. You're flying, your plane crashes, you're stuck in your seat because your seat belt is jammed and you need you knife to cut your seat belt.

You don't wear your backpack when seated while flying, so it's somewhere else in the plane. If you're trapped in your seat becasuse your belt is jammed, how do you get out to find your backpack and rummage around in it for your knife (if your backpack has not already been thrown from the plane in the crash)?

I don't think anyone is going to buy your story about how you "inadvertently" brought your knife to school. Time to go for Plan B.

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I'm so glad you said that ... I get yelled at allatime :D

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Quoting L-1

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OK, let's see. You're flying, your plane crashes, you're stuck in your seat because your seat belt is jammed and you need you knife to cut your seat belt.

You don't wear your backpack when seated while flying, so it's somewhere else in the plane. If you're trapped in your seat becasuse your belt is jammed, how do you get out to find your backpack and rummage around in it for your knife (if your backpack has not already been thrown from the plane in the crash)?

I don't think anyone is going to buy your story about how you "inadvertently" brought your knife to school. Time to go for Plan B.

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