My question involves criminal law for the state of: Virginia.
Age range: 19~20
My friends and I (Total 6) went out jogging at 11pm around the area. On the way back home, we were walking and decide to take a shortcut which we have to walk through the school ground.
As we walked around the school, we saw a guy (It was really dark) walking towards us and decided to run back. (Why wouldn't you walk away from someone that's walking towards you at night...?) RIGHT when we turned around, 10 police officers surrounded us and made us go on the ground and we were handcuffed.
K9 barking at us, Cops laughing and High-fiving to each other that they caught age over 18 students.
We were asked why we were there and told the truth: It was a nice day out and we were just jogging. We passed through the school ground because it was a shortcut.
While they were checking all of our names, more police officers arrived. Including the head officer.
----
In the end, we were all charged for Class 1 Misdemeanor, have to go to the court in 2 months, grabbed the paper, and walked home.
I'm still not sure why we were charged for Class 1 misdemeanor, when trespassing fine is usually just $75 and not having to go to the court.

