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  1. #1
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    Default Prank Call to a Suicide Hotline

    My question involves criminal law for the state of: NY. My son was in a group of teens 6-10 total. They thought it would be funny to prank call the suicide hot line. The phone was on speaker phone, the whole group could be heard laughing and involved. NYS police traced the call which was made on another boys phone, not my child, and responded in force. As it turns out there was alcohol involved (state of mind issue??). The DA has decided to press charges for the falsely reporting the incident, however my son was the only person in the group to be arrested and taken to be finger printed. He is a straight A student, never had a issue with the law, and is easily influenced by his friends. With a record, his hope of West Point and officer school in one year is out the window. What can I do? Why is DA not going after underage drinking, or the parents that were present for providing alcohol to minors which is much bigger issue. Thank you in advance for any help.

  2. #2
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    Default Re: Nys Penal Law False Reporting of Incident/ 17yr Old Son

    Your son cannot use the fact he was drinking to justify his actions.... or else no one could be convicted of a DUI.

    All that will do is bring additional charges against your son.

    Apparently, the DA thought the case against your son was the strongest... perhaps due to something he said or something someone else said.

    You will find that saying, "But what THEY did was worse so my son should be let go" won't go very far in a court of law. Get an attorney for your son and hope for the best. West Point is, unfortunately, gone most likely.

    Pranking a suicide hotline is a heinous activity... one with long term repercussions. It is time to stop providing your son with excuses and start planning his alternate future.

  3. #3
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    Default Re: Nys Penal Law False Reporting of Incident/ 17yr Old Son

    Thank you for your reply. I agree with what you have said about west point, and am in no way looking to excuse his actions both he and I know the severity of the charge. The arresting officer said the DA was looking at the possibilty of sealing the record following a probation time. If he keeps his nose clean then this may go away. Is that something that is fact? Can an ACD be asked for, or a reduction of charge?

  4. #4
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    Default Re: Nys Penal Law False Reporting of Incident/ 17yr Old Son

    Quote Quoting needadvic
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    Thank you for your reply. I agree with what you have said about west point, and am in no way looking to excuse his actions both he and I know the severity of the charge. The arresting officer said the DA was looking at the possibilty of sealing the record following a probation time. If he keeps his nose clean then this may go away. Is that something that is fact? Can an ACD be asked for, or a reduction of charge?
    First, never take legal advice from the arresting officer. Officers simply don't have the authority to tell you the outcome of the case.

    Your son's attorney should negotiate a deal with the DA... some outcomes could certainly include the possibility of an expunged record if your son keeps his nose clean.

    If he gets such a break.... PLEASE make sure he understand that if he is again "easily influenced by his friends" that he could end up in jail on a probation violation.

  5. #5
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    Default Re: Nys Penal Law False Reporting of Incident/ 17yr Old Son

    Why do so many parents evidently think that their child's grade point average and future plans should be a factor in how he is treated when he does something reprehensible?

    If he's that bright, it only means that he should know better.

  6. #6
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    Default Re: Nys Penal Law False Reporting of Incident/ 17yr Old Son

    I'd also get him into counseling. If he is so easily influenced by friends, it seems there are some self-esteem issues that need to be addressed. Also, a place like West Point wants leaders, not followers. Additionally, a teen so easily influenced by his friends - so that he is underage drinking and pranking a suicide hotline...who knows what else will follow to be "cool"? "Here, try some heroin, everyone else is..."

  7. #7
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    Default Re: Nys Penal Law False Reporting of Incident/ 17yr Old Son

    Quote Quoting cbg
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    Why do so many parents evidently think that their child's grade point average and future plans should be a factor in how he is treated when he does something reprehensible?

    If he's that bright, it only means that he should know better.
    I didn't want to address the fact that sonny was drunk and calling suicide hot lines and all mom wanted to do was get mad at the people whose liquor he drank.

    This is a young man that wants to lead other young people in times of war... and mom believes he shouldn't be held accountable for his actions because... well, a host of excuses.

    Mom, I will say that the best thing you can do for your son (and I have a 17 almost 18 year old myself) is to let him take responsibility for his actions... showing him that the first thing you do is find an excuse doesn't do him any favors.

  8. #8
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    Default Re: Prank Call to a Suicide Hotline

    Thanks again for the replies. Perspective other than my own is greatly appreciated.

    Let me address those that think mom is seeking to get son off the hook or find excuse of unexcusable behavior... Not the case here. I am just concerned that there may have been legalities that I was not aware of, thus seeking your advice. He is taking full responsibility for his actions. He was not drunk, he was breathalized. He was completely cooperative with authorities, and is taking what is coming to him.

    With that said, who here, as a parent of a generally trouble free successful teen, would not want to look into all avenues of their son's possible legal issues. The alcohol issue was just a question. Was not sure that it would play into shared responsibility in the act that was completed by a group of teens.

    Thanks again for perspective.

  9. #9
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    Default Re: Prank Call to a Suicide Hotline

    A more effective way of exploring "all the avenues of their son's possible legal issues" would be to pick up the phone, start calling lawyers, and then writing a check to one of them, rather than suggesting to a message board that his grades, his future plans, the fact that alcohol was involved despite their being minors, and that your son evidently has no mind or backbone of his own and allows his friends to coerce him to do things that he certainly should know are wrong, are all factors that should affect how the law addresses his behavior.

  10. #10
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    Default Re: Prank Call to a Suicide Hotline

    Quote Quoting needadvic
    View Post
    Thanks again for the replies. Perspective other than my own is greatly appreciated.

    Let me address those that think mom is seeking to get son off the hook or find excuse of unexcusable behavior... Not the case here.
    Not to disagree, but let's count the excuses made in your "not looking for excuses" post.

    I am just concerned that there may have been legalities that I was not aware of, thus seeking your advice. He is taking full responsibility for his actions. He was not drunk, he was breathalized
    There is number one... YOU stated that alcohol put him out of his right mind.

    Number two - he is taking full responsibility for his actions... YOU stated he was easily influenced by other people.... thereby stating that the prank wasn't his fault but, instead, the fault of others that egged him on.

    He was completely cooperative with authorities, and is taking what is coming to him.

    With that said, who here, as a parent of a generally trouble free successful teen, would not want to look into all avenues of their son's possible legal issues.
    No, you are looking for a loophole. You know he did it... He knows he did it... now you are trying to figure out a way where his punishment is lessened or eliminated because of some excuse. Let's not play semantic games here.

    When my daughter got a ticket, she went to court and dealt with it. Yes, I was there and coached her, but at no time did I try to help her get out of her responsibility.

    You see, when a person wants to lead others in a dangerous activity, it is best if words such as "honor" and "responsibility" and "truth" don't become something to use or misuse as situations demand.

    The alcohol issue was just a question. Was not sure that it would play into shared responsibility in the act that was completed by a group of teens.
    Exactly what part of shared responsibility was involved in YOUR son putting alcohol into HIS body when he knew it was an illegal activity?

    Sounds like a personal decision... and a poor one.

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