Results 1 to 2 of 2

Hybrid View

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Posts
    1

    Default Innocent Minor Charged Over a Fire

    My question involves criminal law for the state of: TN
    Last weekend, my 14 yr old son was skateboarding with a friend and met up with some other boys near a vacant field close to our home. An old sharecropper home sat on the property with only the concrete foundation remaining. The boys began investigation the area and some skateboarded on the foundation. A 13 yr old kid that my son did not know set some leaves and grass on fire. Most of the boys watched the fire; some fueled the fire. Someone found an old chair and tossed it on the fire. It got bigger and smoked a lot. My son and his friend did not participate in any of this activity but watched it. When the fire got bigger, they left the area. When they no longer saw smoke, they returned. A fire truck arrived and all the boys ran away. The kid who started the fire later returned and police questioned him. He named all the kids present.
    On Tuesday, a cop came to the Middle school interviewed my son and collected his contact info. I called the cop and he came to our home to advise that my son was being charged with reckless burning. He specifically said that trespassing was not an issue. The petition says “did take part in the burning of property not belonging to the subjects involved and on property not belonging to them.”
    I did not allow the cop to obtain a statement from my son. I told him that my son was innocent and if he would complete his investigations he would know this. He said that several children said that my son was involved. I think that others may have named him because he was there but not specifically named him as fueling the fire. At least one kid gave a statement of his not participation.
    He has a court date and is being charged as a delinquent which could have jail time of 11/29 and/or $1,000 in fines. I told the cop that my son is a good student and has never been in any trouble before and why can’t he be charged with some lesser charge like Unruly child, etc. He said that you cannot charge an adult as unruly.
    I need advice to prepare for the upcoming court date before the judge. I wonder whether we are entitled to the other kid’s statement(s). I wonder whether it would be helpful to request statements taken by us from the kids involved. I feel like getting our own statements might show that others did not see my son fuel the fire.
    Please let me know other helpful info.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Behind a Desk
    Posts
    98,846

    Default Re: Innocent Minor Charged Over a Fire

    Have you consulted a lawyer yet?
    Quote Quoting myshare2000
    View Post
    I told the cop that my son is a good student and has never been in any trouble before and why can’t he be charged with some lesser charge like Unruly child, etc. He said that you cannot charge an adult as unruly.
    Are you saying he's charged as an adult?

    1. Sponsored Links
       

Similar Threads

  1. Minor in Possession: Charged With Minor in Consumption
    By rathrathon in forum Criminal Charges
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 06-25-2011, 12:11 AM
  2. Theft and Larceny: Charged With Theft as a Minor
    By Chaz8 in forum Criminal Charges
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 05-11-2011, 03:21 PM
  3. Providing to a Minor: Charged with Furnishing to a Minor
    By lazydazyrach in forum Criminal Charges
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 04-15-2011, 10:26 AM
  4. Retail Fraud / Shoplifting: Innocent Charged in Shoplifting - California
    By 33dragons in forum Criminal Charges
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 03-30-2010, 09:17 PM
  5. Theft and Larceny: Innocent, Still Being Charged
    By makinggraves in forum Criminal Charges
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 10-15-2008, 04:57 AM
 
 
Sponsored Links

Legal Help, Information and Resources