Entering an Auto

My question involves criminal law for the state of: Georgia.
My nephew is 17 and was recently arrested for entering an auto. He was with two other boys, both of whom are 16. A search warrant was done on my nephew's home and nothing was found in his house or his car. A search warrant was done at the home of one of the other boys and a few stolen items were found. No search done at the home of the third boy. (Don't know why). My nephew was arrested. The other boy was charged as a minor - one was taken in and one was not. Will the boys be treated equally (minor vs. adult?) Could my nephew get in more trouble, even though nothing was found at his house, than the other two boys. He has no previous arrests, no previous trouble at all. They are getting an attorney and he said it could take up to a year to go to court. He wants to go to college next year, and is afraid this will hurt his chances if not resolved before then. Is there a way to get charges reduced or dropped? Is there a way to get it taken care of more quickly?

If you're charged as an adult you get an adult criminal record.

His lawyer is the best person to ask about whether there may be a way to get the case dropped or dismissed more quickly than his "up to a year" estimate.