What should I know or think about when in court? What kinds of questions will be asked and what will be my punishment now that I’m a legal adult? [California]
I’m not sure if this is the right kind of board for this kind of advice, but any help would be amazing.
For some context, I got a BB gun from my girlfriend who was with her 21 year old brother when she bought it. I had unknowingly broken the window of the adjacent apartment from my balcony, since it is behind a mesh screen and I couldn’t hear the sound of glass breaking. After that I had shot and broken the glass covering of the same apartment’s balcony light. I didn’t commit vandalism to be a menace or target this family, I was just bored and liked hearing the different sounds of the pellets hitting different things. After breaking the balcony light, I stopped playing with the gun for a while. But I liked shooting it so one night I played with it again, but only shot the other apartment complex’s outside wall and roof. A short time later police officers are banging on the door while I’m home alone and arrest me. I tell them my story and apparently they recorded me shooting the gun?
This all happened when I was 17, and now I’m 18 and my court date is in about a month. What will happen when I’m in court? What kind of questions will they ask and what will my punishment be? What things should I tell the judge to make the situation better? Sorry if this is the wrong subreddit, but I need all the legal help I can get and I have no idea what to do in this situation.
I’m no expert, but in this situation, you run no risk of any permanent sort of shit, so I would plead guilty and just cop it, how bad can it be if you own up to it. Least here in Australia kids get off with only paying for the damage if they own up to it.
Elijah Gomez
>subreddit >frogposting I want to believe this is bait, but if true you're fucking autistic OP. Maybe you can get into an asylum if you act similarly in the courtroom.
Nathaniel Morales
Not the black ones.
Justin Martinez
The U.S. is much less free than Australia.
Blake Adams
OP your a fucking idiot, please never touch real firearms. If It's your first offence you'll get off easy and pay fines/community service. Fuck up again though and your ass Is done son.
Yeah talk to a lawyer and make sure that this isn't some how a felony or a violent misdomener. Then see if pleading guilty would be the best bet, it probably will be. Get it over with and move on, and maybe even down the line get it annulled.
Is this possible over a broken window and lamp light? When I was arrested it just seemed like I should tell the officers everything to be truthful. My arraignment date is February 13th. After my arrest a detective asked to call me for a follow up report. He asked what happened that night and to make sure I knew what day to go to court. This all seems very scary right now.
David Howard
Shouldn't have fucked up like you did you idiot. Stay away from guns.
Leo Nguyen
Just be cooperative and open and all that shit
Matthew Nguyen
Listen, faggot. First off, be in touch with your attorney. You will probably be assigned one at your arraignment. Him and the DA will be in contact with one another, and your lawyer will be the first to know if you have a plea bargain available (you probably will).
This doesn't sound like a violent misdemeanor or a felony charge, so you should be in the clear for owning guns in the future. Sometimes just owning what you did and admitting that you were a naive retard will go a long way with the DA and the court as whole, so keep that in mind. This should probably be a 'slap on the wrist' scenario, if that.
In many states, there is a clause for something typically called a 'civil compromise' -- where a criminal charge can be settled civilly. I.e. you pay the other party money for damages and everybody moves on with their lives. This isn't the time to "nickel and dime", so offer something like $500-$1000 flat for the light and/or emotional damages.
Zachary Rivera
Ask your lawyer, not some Bolivian raft construction forum.
If you can’t afford a good one then still get at least a public defender
William Price
You are a budding psychopath and should be removed permanently from the population.
Kayden Brooks
dumb frogposter
Ethan Gonzalez
Can you English? I meant the authorities here DONT punish them on account of their skin colour.
All niggers must hang.
Easton Morris
Everyone telling OP to be open about everything is fucking retarded. It's too late for you op. It doesn't matter if you are even just jay walking, you never EVER talk to anyone other than your attorney.
Nicholas Moore
If you disagree with the version of events provided by the prosecution you should probably have written a statement listing your version of events. How could they have filmed you operating the pellet rifle? Unfortunately being bored isn’t an honest mistake, so dress nice at least so you don’t seem like a total retard
Xavier Miller
Yer going to the booty house lol
Kayden Howard
On one hand this is terrible advice for the US On the other hand, OP is a redditposting frognigger who deserves it
Connor Phillips
The neighbour who called the police probably filmed OP as well.
Sebastian Harris
>shooting a window >surprised it breaks when an object moving at relatively high speed impacts it You're definitely a Californian. The mesh windows have typically isn't that strong either, it's just meant to keep bugs and shit out of your house while the window is open. But you should still be in the clear for future gun ownership, just don't be this retarded next time.
>just cop it, Don't ever fucking admit shit to a nigger with a badge.
Henry Murphy
Tell them you where drunk and didn't know what. You're a faggot and a pussy. The type of dude who would willingly give his guns up to the niggers with badges.
Jordan Howard
No he's not he's stupid I'll give you that. Man when did k turn into a bunch of soccer mommies who are scared constantly. Op you fucked up pay dameges and blame booze.
Jeremiah Smith
This is an adult respond. Don't be stupid op, deny shooting the gun, offer to pay for damages and emotianly trama and blame booze.
Parker Ward
NO do not blame alcohol! It seems like a good idea now but just wait for the consequences!
Adrian Murphy
get a lawyer?. even a pro bono public defender will give you basic legal guidance that will help. in reality there are probably a very limited number of potential options for you, legally speaking. so as far as court proceedig and legal outcomes, its probably gonna be pretty simple
calm down, don't sweat it too much. you'll get through this and it will be one of those valuable but hard lessons learned
write a letter to the "victim", the judge, the public in general via the newspaper making an honest apology and plea for forgiveness
Josiah Brooks
hopefully they give you the electric chair
Parker Perry
when visiting lawyer, going to court, any of that stuff. dress presentably and be well groomed, be respectful to everyone. just know that police, courts, judges and lawyers have seen this shit a million times and if you try to bullshit anyone in any way they will see right through it and any mercy or forgiveness they may have had for you will be potentially withheld.
talk to your lawyer, be straightforward and honest with lawyer and they will do their part in working you through this
Easton Brooks
>What should I know or think about when in court? it's not your job to know. it's your lawyer's. sit down, shut up and let him do the work.
Robert Lewis
Fucking degenerate
Dylan Stewart
>if you try to bullshit anyone in any way they will see right through it and any mercy or forgiveness they may have had for you will be potentially withheld. Look buddy I get that mommy and daddy are cops but this is such a bullshit lie. Guess what government dicks get lied to all the time and buy it. They also commit crimes too. If it wasn't for criminals the judicial system wouldn't have money.
Idiots like you should be hanged. You're a menace to the public.
Noah Thompson
Shooting and not knowing whats behind. OP please dont ever own guns.
Jack Rivera
Some life advise. Dont surrender information to the police. You have the right to remain silent.
Jose Bennett
i was speaking specifically to OPs particular case.
it wasn't meant as a positive endorsement for police, the status of current laws, or the legal system.
it wasn't meant as advice to use the situation to automatically confess to every wrong thing you ever did.
ops case is simple and straightforward with a potentially low level of punishment. trying to lie or scheme his way out it is not going to make things any better for him.
that was my only point
Evan Jenkins
Dont tell them your drunk op. This retard thinks that's a good excuse, he is wrong. OP if you tell the cops you were drunk and you were under 21. Their going to slap you with an under age drinking charge too.
Daniel Ross
>This isn't the time to "nickel and dime", so offer something like $500-$1000 flat for the light and/or emotional damages.
This is California, so OP is going to wind up paying for the damage. Offering to do so before it’s court mandated is good for brownie points. Making a lowball offer like you suggested is just going to piss the court off. There’s also going to be fines levied, OP will wind up on the hook for about $2-3K, all told. They’ll typically look at his income and come up with a payment plan that’s within reach. He’ll have until the end of his probation to get it all paid up. Probation can and will be extended if he needs more time to pay it off. That’ll be one of his probation conditions.
Some other factors in play that will affect the sentence; - what county is it in? Probably the most critical thing, right there. That affects the charges, which in turn affects the sentence. - is OP being charged as a juvenile or as an adult? - what are the specific charges? This is the second most critical thing. If the damage is over $400, the DA can charge it as a felony. That’ll probably happen at the outset, to force OP into a plea deal. Vandalism might not even be on the table, it might be something like shooting at an inhabited structure or terrorist threats. It depends on how badly the DA wants to fuck OP. - does OP have a lawyer, or a public defender. A lawyer will get a much better deal for OP, a PD will just lube him up so the DA doesn’t go in dry.
That’s my thoughts, anyway.
Gavin Davis
>Their going to slap you with an under age drinking charge too.
Very good possibility, which would add length and complexity to the term of probation. Things like attending 2 AA meetings every day for 90 days, then 1 a week for the remainder of probation. And he might have to attend some classes that he has to pay for. If the DA is a real dick, he might go after whoever provided the booze to OP. Stole it from the parents? They get slammed with child neglect and child endangerment charges, because they left booze where a child could get it.
Jason Hughes
>Making a lowball offer It was a light and window. 300 bucks will probably cover both of those and someone gets to pocket 700 for "distress".
Christopher Lopez
Never tell the cops anything dumbass
Daniel Bailey
You were a minor when it happened so you may be "lucky" and get an easier plea deal. Either way dress nice, suit and tie or if you don't have that at least a tie and dress pants. If you have a job start saving everything and if you don't have one get one now because you are going to have to pay the damages on top of court fess and any other bullshit they tack on. Convince them that you have learned from the mistake and that it was juvenile ignorance but don't blubber like a retard. Address the judge as sir/ma'am/ your honor and be respectful and speak only when you are told to.
You shouldn't be facing felonies in the long run because you were so young but do not be surprised if they slap you with one at first to coax you into a plea agreement. And just plead guilty, it sounds like it's pretty obvious they know it was you and have evidence of that.
Matthew White
>blame booze. He was 17 he definitely should not do that.
Lucas Torres
You’re overlooking labor for installation. That’s part of paying for the damages. The window alone is going to go at least $400, maybe more depending on size. If it was a sliding glass balcony door, that could be $1K right there. Sure, OP could run down to Lowe’s and get the replacement parts for $250 or so, but that’s not how the justice system works in Cali. And paying for distress in a criminal case isn’t a done thing, either. It’s a little too close to dissuading a witness, which DAs love to tack on when they can.
Jack Collins
>going into judicial proceedings that could effect the rest of your life >ask Jow Forums instead of investing in an attorney
justaspiethings
David Martin
You sound like a piece of shit. Hope they throw the book at you. Please don't ever own a real firearm. You will probably just do something stupid and ruin it for the rest of us.
Ryan Turner
Aussie rank top 10 in 2027 freedom index
America ranks 17
Not just gun law, but all the law
Mason Hernandez
Go to Jow Forums board user
And you fucked up telling the cops everything Now, your best bet is to go tan to a lawyer
And the incident happens when you were under 18, so it should be treated as you were under 18
That’s what happen in traffic court
Robert Bell
Why the fuck are you asking us? Hire a fucking lawyer and ask them if they can get you differed disposition or something. It's where you plead guilty, but the case is put on hold for X amount of time. If you don't get in any more shit during that time the charges will be dropped.
> I didn’t commit vandalism to be a menace or target this family, I was just bored and liked hearing the different sounds of the pellets hitting different things You are either genuinely retarded or you think that we are retarded enough to believe that. Come up with a better story or just fucking apologize.
