Hey,I am 16 and reside in toronto. So some buddies and I decided to sneak out. One of them had an idea to walk around and see if cars were unlocked. I can honestly say that I never touched a sing car. Anyway, One of the guys found an old phone that's worth about 50 dollars max.since he didn't have pockets he told me to hang on to it. 2 minutes later cops come by and patt us down cause we looked suspicious. They found the phone, which I didn't take but it still had my prints on it cause I touched it. They charged me for Theft Under 5000, Possession of property by crime. As this is my first offence, would it be possible to get a diversion. I understand that I made a stupid mistake, and am willing to do whatever it takes to make it right. I am a strong student and a national level athlete. So I'm hoping to get a diversion, what are my chances?

32 views, no replies? Please help!

No one knows what your chances are except for the Crown Attorney. Anything else is a guess.

What does your Attorney say?

She says that she will try to talk to the prosecutor and try to end this without even going to court

She says that she will try to talk to the prosecutor and try to end this without even going to court


Then she knows or thinks she knows what is going to happen. She also knows the circumstances (and you) better than anyone here so we would all be second guessing her.

OK thanks for the help judy :)

ok thanks for the help judy :)



Wish I could give you good news - but, unfortunately, no one knows -

Please come back and let us know what happens. It very well may be a big help to someone else.

So, it's all over and done with, After many weeks of nail biting, I just have to make a $200 donation to a charity of my choice. No criminal record, no anything. If anyone has any questions just let me know

So, it's all over and done with, After many weeks of nail biting, i just have to make a $200 donation to a charity of my choice. No criminal record, no anything. if anyone has any questions just let me know


Thanks for coming back and letting us know - I'm glad it worked out for you.

Can you walk us through the process of what happened? Did you end up going to court? Or was it solved without going to court?

Can you walk us through the process of what happened? Did you end up going to court? Or was it solved without going to court?



I was arrested along with the people who I was with in the beginning of August. A couple hours later I was released to my parents with a promise to appear in court, a date for fingerprinting (sep 5) and the court date itself (sep 10). Also there was a condition that I could not talk directly or indiectly to the people who were with me (this includes, msn, Facebook, myspace etc).

The next day I got myself a good lawyer. She explained to me that there would be very little chance for jail time. Basically she described the Youth Diversion Program and that I have a chance of getting accepted. A couple of days later I got an email from her with forms that I had to sign to allow her to represent me in court.

So September 5th rolls around and I go to the police station and got my fingerprints/photos taken. It all took around 30 minutes. And I was free to go so to speak

I personally did not have to go to court because my lawyer represented me. She told me that the crown accepted me into the diversion program and that my sentence was to make a donation of $200 to any charity, fax the receipt to the crown and all my charges would be cleared. Nothing on my record.

Hope this answers any question, if you have any more please feel free to ask