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law001 · Apr 11, 2009, 05:57 PM

I'm 17 years old from GA. I have a neighbor/ good family friend who I usually house-sit when they go out of town... but their most recent vacation they didn't need a house sitter. I found out they were gone out of the country for a week and a half, so I went to their house and turn off the alarm system so that me and about 5 of my friend could have a place to hang out. We were in there house for just for about 4 to 5hrs. And nothing was broken or stolen from them. They later came home and found out that we were there and now they are thinking about pressing charges against me and my friends. What type of charges I can face? And also should I keep my friends out of this since it was my idea?

artlady · Apr 11, 2009, 06:28 PM

Oh bad move! No ,don't ever take your friends down, it was all on you so that; it .O.K.
Obviously ,breaking and entering.

It also depends on what they say you may have taken,if anything.

You have no clue what your friends did.
Maybe you should ask your parents to get you a lawyer.

Maybe you can talk to these people and make good without the law involved.

When my kids did stupid things I paid for it and it was done,
Ask your parents to help you.
They will pay for a lawyer.Learn your lesson!

Fr_Chuck · Apr 11, 2009, 06:34 PM

If one single thing is missing, food, a pencil, in GA, they can do burgary,
Plus since you turned their alarms off the DA could try that anyway.

But at least Criminal tresspass

You will need a seroiusly good attorney

In GA they will charge you as a adult and either will be a felony, and very possible jail time.

redhed35 · Apr 11, 2009, 06:35 PM

You big gomebeen (its an irish saying,needless to say its not pretty)

Beg for mercy,grovel,do something.dont let this dictate your life,i.e,breaking and entering,plead insanity,plead teenager-ism.

ScottGem · Apr 11, 2009, 06:49 PM

Yes Criminal trespass as a minimum.

And yes I would take full responsibility and not involve your friends.

redhed35 · Apr 11, 2009, 06:53 PM

I never said it was legal advice.

What I'm saying is, if he approaches these people who are quite rightly angry,and says he is sorry,and didn't think about what he was doing,maybe,maybe he can avoid legal action.

Sorry,must have gotten lost in translation.

ScottGem · Apr 11, 2009, 07:01 PM

Originally Posted by redhed35

i never said it was legal advice.

.

But this is a legal forum, And the OP requested legal advice. You need to pay attention to the forum you are reading and the question being asked.

Fr_Chuck · Apr 11, 2009, 07:15 PM

I will step out of the box here

Actually I am not sure that a good attorney may not tell you to go and beg forgiveness, have your dad go with you and offer to pay for damages and "use of the house"

From a legal standpoint, if they can prove beyond a doubt that you did this, and you opened the house and turned the code off, getting the injured party not to press charges may be some good legal advice.

law001 · Apr 11, 2009, 07:45 PM

When they got back to their house, the wife had a funny feeling and we left some fans on in the house. So they thought were rob, so the police came and after hrs of looking around they couldn't find anything missing. None of my friends are the stealing type... we all have money. But I was ask if I was over there and I just told them the truth even though they couldn't have prove it was me... I just didn't want this to drag out.

ScottGem · Apr 11, 2009, 08:30 PM

I do agree with Chuck and Red, from a non legal standpoint, you are probably best servd by throwing yourself on their mercy.

twinkiedooter · Apr 12, 2009, 08:41 AM

I'd still have mommy and daddy get you an attorney as they could go for B&E charges and if you want to continue your life in any sort of a career that does background checks this may be feasible for your folks to do for you.

You said you let yourself in... how did you do this? Do you still have a key to their home?

Why didn't you just have the party at your house instead of their home? Makes no sense to me. I know if you did that to me, I'd press charges to the max against you. But then, that's just me.

law001 · Apr 12, 2009, 12:39 PM

Originally Posted by twinkiedooter

I'd still have mommy and daddy get you an attorney as they could go for B&E charges and if you want to continue your life in any sort of a career that does background checks this may be feasible for your folks to do for you.

You said you let your self in... how did you do this? Do you still have a key to their home?

Why didn't you just have the party at your house instead of their home? Makes no sense to me. I know if you did that to me, I'd press charges to the max against you. But then, that's just me.

I usually always house-sit, so I know the garage door code and the alarm system code. And the reason why I didn't have the party (it really wasn't a party--including me there were 6 people) at my house is because my parents were home. We just hung out and had a few of our own beers.

twinkiedooter · Apr 13, 2009, 04:56 PM

Originally Posted by law001

I usually always house-sit, so I know the garage door code and the alarm system code. And the reason why I didn't have the party (it really wasn't a party--including me there were 6 people) at my house is because my parents were home. We just hung out and had a few of our own beers.

So you were underage drinking as well?? Gosh, in that case do not ask mommy and daddy for any financial help at all. You deserve the book thrown at you for such a stunt. No wonder you went to the neighbor's house to drink as your folks would have gotten arrested for holding a drinking party for underaged kids. Beer = possible jail time for underage drinkers and a criminal charge for the parents who have alcohol served in their home to minors other than their children.

law001 · Apr 14, 2009, 08:15 AM

Originally Posted by twinkiedooter

So you were underage drinking as well????? Gosh, in that case do not ask mommy and daddy for any financial help at all. You deserve the book thrown at you for such a stunt. No wonder you went to the neighbor's house to drink as your folks would have gotten arrested for holding a drinking party for underaged kids. Beer = possible jail time for underage drinkers and a criminal charge for the parents who have alcohol served in their home to minors other than their children.

Ok, I'm a good kid. I have never been in any trouble before this, and this is the first time I can truly say my parents are disappointed with me. My friends and I didn't kill anyone, we just did a stupid thing that plenty of other 16 and 17 year old kids do. I talk with a lawyer and he said they case shouldn't be a legal case at all, he said I not the first and will not be the last 17 year old have a party at a friends house with out their permission. So hopefully my neighbors will realized that too.

ScottGem · Apr 14, 2009, 08:22 AM

I really hate the "everyone does it" excuse, because it no excuse at all.

From a legal matter, the lawyer was wrong. You entered the house without permission, that is a crime. You did not party at a friend's house while the parent's were away, you abused the trust you were given as a house sitter and entered an unoccupied home without permission. There is a difference.

But from a practical matter, I can't see a prosecutor pursuing this unless the homeowners make a big stink. And I don't see them making such a stink, especially if you abase yourself and apologize profusely. Offer to mow their law or do some other work around the OUTSIDE of the house for free as a way of restitution to show you learned your lesson.

law001 · Apr 14, 2009, 11:16 AM

Originally Posted by ScottGem

I really hate the "every does it" excuse, because it no excuse at all.

From a legal matter, the lawyer was wrong. You entered the house without permission, that is a crime. You did not party at a friend's house while the parent's were away, you abused the trust you were given as a house sitter and entered an unoccupied home without permission. There is a difference.

But from a practical matter, I can't see a prosecutor pursuing this unless the homeowners make a big stink. And I don't see them making such a stink, especially if you abase yourself and apologize profusely. Offer to mow their law or do some other work around the OUTSIDE of the house for free as a way of restitution to show you learned your lesson.

I'm no way saying that if everyone does it, it is okay... cause its not. I think the lawyer meant he don't see it been a case that the prosecutor want to pursue, cause in Atlanta they got bigger fish to fry in Atlanta. But the best advice he did tell me was to give them time... and that time can heal this situation. Its been almost 2 weeks, so if they wanted to do press charges they probably would have already done it.

ScottGem · Apr 14, 2009, 11:32 AM

Originally Posted by law001

I'm no way saying that if everyone does it, it is okay...cause its not. I think the lawyer meant he don't see it been a case that the prosecutor want to pursue, cause in Atlanta they got bigger fish to fry in Atlanta. But the best advice he did tell me was to give them time...and that time can heal this situation. Its been almost 2 weeks, so if they wanted to do press charges they probably would of already done it.

I still say don't wait. I don't know what has been said to them since you first admitted your transgression. But I really think you should try to repair the damage proactively, rather than wait for them to take action.

JudyKayTee · Apr 14, 2009, 11:44 AM

Originally Posted by redhed35

i never said it was legal advice.

what im saying is, if he approaches these people who are quite rightly angry,and says he is sorry,and didnt think about what he was doing,maybe,maybe he can avoid legal action.

sorry,must have gotten lost in translation.

I'm sorry also but you posted it on a legal board where legal advice is requested and given. We take great pride in our answers. You advice was not advice - but it appears that you know that now - nor are the questions "funny" to the posters.

JudyKayTee · Apr 14, 2009, 11:47 AM

Originally Posted by law001

Ok, I'm a good kid. I have never been in any trouble before this, and this is the first time I can truly say my parents are disappointed with me. My friends and I didn't kill anyone, we just did a stupid thing that plenty of other 16 and 17 year old kids do. I talk with a lawyer and he said they case shouldn't be a legal case at all, he said I not the first and will not be the last 17 year old have a party at a friends house with out their permission. So hopefully my neighbors will realized that too.

You had me up until the "first and will not be the last" 17 year old to have a party at a friends house without their permission.

I say it's breaking and entering. Get an Attorney.

And you were drinking, underage? If there had been an accident, whether you brought your own "beers" or not, guess who would have been sued? The homeowner.

Irresponsible and you COULD have killed someone.

If I were your parent I'd be as upset with the underage drinking as the B&E - and where did you get the beer? Who has fake proof?

twinkiedooter · Apr 14, 2009, 12:13 PM

Originally Posted by JudyKayTee

You had me up until the "first and will not be the last" 17 year old to have a party at a friends house without their permission.

I say it's breaking and entering. Get an Attorney.

And you were drinking, underage? If there had been an accident, whether you brought your own "beers" or not, guess who would have been sued? The homeowner.

Irresponsible and you COULD have killed someone.

If I were your parent I'd be as upset with the underage drinking as the B&E - and where did you get the beer? Who has fake proof?

I agree with the B&E and underaged alcohol consumption. This kid supposedly being a "good" kid is a real stretch of the imagination. It always amazes me that when some "rich" kid does it he's always a good kid. Typical balogna. I hope his neighbors go ahead with the B&E after all.

Who knows what else this supposedly "good kid" is going to try in the future thinking he can just do whatever he wants to as he can get away with it because he's a "good kid"? Money does not seem to buy brains or common sense.