Yes – This Can Happen To Your Child (Part I)
Minor Situations That Become Major Legal Issues For Parents
It can never happen to my child. That is what all of us parents think. But all too often even the most innocent children face legal issues that can change the course of their lives. Here are things you can do to save your child’s future and not find the need to call an attorney.
Peer Pressure & Fear Lead To Possession Charges
He is barely 17: Never missed a school assignment and all work is high quality; strong commitment to education; excellent time management; excellent participation; creative; principled; caring; outgoing, passionate and dedicated; charismatic and charming; works hard and possesses excellent leadership skills. The accolades go on and on from teachers, coaches, employers and others. He was captain of his football team and has volunteered in the community for years. A parent couldn’t be more proud. He has never been in trouble one day in his life.
Then he is invited to a get together at a friend’s home. Then he is confronted in his car by police. Then he sits in jail waiting for his parents. Now he is facing multiple charges including DUI, possession of alcohol by a minor and possession of marijuana. He will loose his license, have issues at school and could end up with a criminal record. His parents must hire an attorney – fast.
What Happened?
He was afraid to offend his friends so he stayed at his house and did things he knew he should not be doing. Things he did not want to do. He was afraid his parents would be upset and disappointed so he didn’t call for help or a ride.
Take Action Today!
You must talk with your children. You must have a Zero tolerance for use of alcohol and drugs. But if, God forbid, your child ends up at the wrong place and / or in the wrong situation, they must not be afraid to call for help. Prepare a plan to help your child leave a bad situation without fear.
Our office receives numerous calls from distressed parents who tell us that, the day before, they would have bet their home that this would never happen. Everyday a good teenager finds himself or herself in trouble. They are still good kids, but now they have to find a way to protect their future. Protect your child with :
- Knowledge
- A plan to avoid or leave a bad situation without incident
- The understanding that your child can call you anytime for any reason
- The understanding that your child should not talk to anyone without you being present.
You can call Attorneys Ron Bellenot and Kathy Criscuolo Boufford at 888-752-6069 or in an emergency 203-816-6662 if you need help addressing any concerns involving your child and legal issues.
Yes – This Can Happen To Your Child (Part I)
Minor Situations That Become Major Legal Issues For Parents
She Did Nothing Wrong – Just One Of The Students. Yet She Is Detained, Searched And Questioned. All Without Her Parents’ Consent.
1. She is sweet 16, smart and popular. One day at school she gets into a car with her friends to go out for lunch. When they return, the school security officer stops the students to inquire where they had gone. He searches the car (Just because he can) and finds a marijuana pipe under the front passenger seat. No one admits to owning the pipe so all of the students are taken to the office to be questioned. Miss Sweet 16 is searched, questioned and the police are called, all prior to notifying her parents.
This Can And Does Happen. The Results Can Be Devastating, Unintended And Wrong.
Never having been in trouble ever before, this young lady is frightened, intimidated and confused. She did nothing wrong, but is interrogated and told that the police will be here soon. School officials have the right to do this and with good reason. No one should condone the use or possession of drug paraphernalia or question the school’s right to investigate such a situation. But these are minor children, most of whom have little or no idea of how to protect themselves. Fear, anxiety and confusion can lead a teenager to do and say things she or he doesn’t mean. Things can be said in a way that can be misinterpreted. A parent should be involved with situations like this from the very beginning.
Traditional Food Fight Leads To Arrest Nothing Is Trivial To Many School Officials.
2. It’s Senior Day, and as tradition has it, there will be a food fight in the cafeteria. Unbeknownst to the students, the new principal will not tolerate this. So the teachers assigned to the cafeteria during lunch write down the names of all the students who throw hot dogs and potato puffs. The police are called and, one by one, the listed students are called to the office, questioned and arrested. The students loose time from school and the parents must take time off from work to appear in court. There will be more then one court appearance and the expense of hiring an attorney. Some students are prohibited from participating in band, sports and even the prom. At least one is not allowed to attend graduation. You must be proactive and speak with your child about:
- How to avoid situations like this at school
- The severity of the consequences of breaking the school rules
- While being respectful and cooperative, your child should insist on calling you before speaking to anyone
You can call Attorneys Ron Bellenot and Kathy Criscuolo Boufford at 888-752-6069 or in an emergency 203-816-6662 if you need help addressing any concerns involving your child and legal issues.
Yes – This Can Happen To Your Child (Part III)
Minor Situations That Become Major Legal Issues For Parents
The Snowball Effect With Severe Results.
Mom and Dad are finally getting away for that long deserved weekend alone. They gave their 17, almost 18 year old son permission to have a couple of friends over. Sonny takes advantage of his parents generosity and does invite two friends. Teenagers being teenagers, friend Number 1 tells a couple of his friends, who tell their friends and word gets around. Saturday night Sonny’s friend Number 2 arrives. A short while later, friend Number 1 arrives with one of his friends. Sonny is concerned, but lets the two in. Then more of Number 2’s friends arrive with others. Sonny knows they shouldn’t be there, but he gets talked into letting them stay. More like he is railroaded into letting them stay.
Someone brought beer and more. Someone starts smoking. Sonny is trying to keep things safe, but it gets out of control. Hours later the police arrive and the houseful of teenagers start to run in every direction. Some get away, some are caught and a few just give up. Sonny is arrested for, among other things, possession of alcohol by a minor, delivering alcohol to minors and reckless endangerment. He sits in jail, because he couldn’t reach his parents. When his parents finally learn of the arrest, they are met with more bad news. One minor who left the home after drinking was in an accident that caused the death of one teenager and serious physical injury to two others. An 18 year old teenager also faces a long jail term for statutory rape, because the mother of a 15 year old girl presses charges. The 15 year old admits the relationship was consensual and that she told the boy that she was 18, but that doesn’t matter.
These are real life situations that happen. It happens to good kids who never intended the result of what happens. They never knew it was possible for things like this to happen and they do little to contribute to the tragic ends. But these young men and young ladies were not prepared to stop the snowball once it was rolling.
Knowledge And Action Will Keep Your Child Safe.
You can call Attorneys Ron Bellenot and Kathy Criscuolo Boufford at 888-752-6069 or in an emergency 203-816-6662 if you need help addressing any concerns involving your child and legal issues.
