Can my Son get in legal trouble?

[alexnb]

So, my son stupidly helped a few other people plan a party on halloween.

He is in high school and so was everyone else involved. There was underage drinking at the party.

He however did not attend the party, but did send out a message from his facebook with detailed information to people invited to the party. The party was broken up by police who did not dish out tickets, instead they had the kids who had drank call their parents to pick them up and the boy who was throwing the party also did not have legal action taken against him.

However it has been brought to my attention that they may be investigating further.

So my question is: Can my son get in legal trouble if he was never in possession or consumed any alcohol, but sent out a message to people regarding the party?

[Creeker]

So, my son stupidly helped a few other people plan a party on halloween.

He is in high school and so was everyone else involved. There was underage drinking at the party.

He however did not attend the party, but did send out a message from his facebook with detailed information to people invited to the party. The party was broken up by police who did not dish out tickets, instead they had the kids who had drank call their parents to pick them up and the boy who was throwing the party also did not have legal action taken against him.

However it has been brought to my attention that they may be investigating further.

So my question is: Can my son get in legal trouble if he was never in possession or consumed any alcohol, but sent out a message to people regarding the party?

Did the info he sent out indicate there would be Booze at the party?

At least a state location might get you a more thorough answer. Different states have different laws.

[pac201]

he could be charged with complicity here...

[alexnb]

Did the info he sent out indicate there would be Booze at the party?

At least a state location might get you a more thorough answer. Different states have different laws.

I believe he did say there would be.

Which is unfortunate, because he did not send the message, he and another kid typed it and the other kid typed the specifics about the alcohol. My son swears he did not press send however, but there is no way to prove that, so no one is going to believe him.

but I live in texas if that helps.

[Joeyd6]

Based on what you said, I am betting there will be no criminal charges filed. However, when the cops do contact you, I suggest you share you concerns about what your son did, how upset you are, and ask if they could make sure they set him on the right path (aka- scare the crap out of him).

Plus when the cops come calling, ask them point blank without your kid, what their intentions are. I did many of these as a cop and it was always to tie up some paperwork, maybe refer a kid to family court and make sure the kids knew they can;t do what they did again without paying the price.

Working with the cops and using this as a learning tool is the best solution for everyone. Maybe they can all spend a day doing alcohol related community service to remind them of the dangers.

[alexnb]

Based on what you said, I am betting there will be no criminal charges filed. However, when the cops do contact you, I suggest you share you concerns about what your son did, how upset you are, and ask if they could make sure they set him on the right path (aka- scare the crap out of him).

Plus when the cops come calling, ask them point blank without your kid, what their intentions are. I did many of these as a cop and it was always to tie up some paperwork, maybe refer a kid to family court and make sure the kids knew they can;t do what they did again without paying the price.

Working with the cops and using this as a learning tool is the best solution for everyone. Maybe they can all spend a day doing alcohol related community service to remind them of the dangers.

Thank you!

That was very helpful. They have not called, but I am just trying to figure out what could happen. But no one at the party when it was busted got any legal trouble, not even the kid who's house it was at.

But i'll be sure to let him know that my son hasn't gone unpunished, I just don't think legal trouble is necessary since he did not ever touch alcohol, just helped plan the party, and by that I mean he helped come up with the system to mark other kids off as to not let people drink without a DD. If the kids didn't have the mark they were not allowed to drink (because they were either the DD or didn't have one)

Actually a smart system... too bad it's for a stupid reason.

Oh well thanks for your help!

[Sgt. Slaughter]

I believe he did say there would be.

Which is unfortunate, because he did not send the message, he and another kid typed it and the other kid typed the specifics about the alcohol. My son swears he did not press send however, but there is no way to prove that, so no one is going to believe him.

I'm sure you understand the concept of "party to a crime". He planned, advertised and facilitated an underage party. He KNEW there would be alcohol present. Just because he didn't type the 'alcohol' part or he isn't the one that clicked 'send' doesn't alleviate him of responsibility.

But i'll be sure to let him know that my son hasn't gone unpunished, I just don't think legal trouble is necessary since he did not ever touch alcohol, just helped plan the party, and by that I mean he helped come up with the system to mark other kids off as to not let people drink without a DD. If the kids didn't have the mark they were not allowed to drink (because they were either the DD or didn't have one)

Actually a smart system... too bad it's for a stupid reason.

It's not up to you to decide whether "legal trouble" is necessary or not. If it makes it that far, it's to the courts to decide. The system those kids came up with is NOT smart. It's stupid. Kids at that age easily succumb to peer pressure. No little "x" on their hand is going to stop them from drinking if they've a mind to do it. You'd be singing a much different tune if one of those kids got alcohol poisoning or drove drunk and crashed.

By now you're probably thinking, "Jeeze, this guy's a ****!" And I'll tell you you're right. I've got a reason, though. I was literally around the corner when a 15 year old kid crashed into a block wall. I heard the sound of a vehicle heavily accelerating, then skidding, then twisting and crushing metal and glass. I had to walk through engine smoke, dust, debrist and the brains of one kid to get to the car. His open skull was hanging out of the shattered back passenger window. There were 5 kids total in the car, all 14 or 15. The back seat center passenger was folded in half from the force of the impact. He died as tear-filled firefighters were later performing CPR on him. The other back seat passenger was barely breathing and the front passenger was knocked unconscious.

Guess which one was mostly uninjured and was able to walk away from the wreck? Yup, the driver. That 15 year old kid was shit-faced drunk. So were several of the passengers. The driver killed 2 of his friends that day and severely injured the other 2. He will get to live with that for the rest of his life. So do all the cops and firefighters that worked the scene. So does the community and fellow students who came out and erected candles, pictures and balloons at the crash site. So will the guy across the street who actually saw the vehicle impact the wall. He ran over to help me but stumbled across the street when he saw the carnage. We got calls to his house for the next 8 months when he'd call saying he heard children's voices outside his house playing pranks on him. You know what? There never were any kids around his house. He is psychologically scarred from watching the results of what you feel isn't a big deal. In the grand scheme of things, a Texas party where underage kids are drinking is NOT the end of the world. Unless you're one of the parents involved in the carnage afterward.

[Curt581]

Sorry, Sarge... Must Spread Rep message.

Anybody else?

[Creeker]

... I just don't think legal trouble is necessary since he did not ever touch alcohol, just helped plan the party, and by that I mean he helped come up with the system to mark other kids off as to not let people drink without a DD. If the kids didn't have the mark they were not allowed to drink (because they were either the DD or didn't have one)

Actually a smart system... too bad it's for a stupid reason.

...

Lets hope that you haven't shown him your admiration for his efforts to circumvent common sense in his criminal genius as much as you've shown us.

"Oh look everybody, little Jr. actually knows how to load that gun he's giving to all his friends."

[txinvestigator1]

I believe he did say there would be.

Which is unfortunate, because he did not send the message, he and another kid typed it and the other kid typed the specifics about the alcohol. My son swears he did not press send however, but there is no way to prove that, so no one is going to believe him.

but I live in texas if that helps.

Your little boy is lying to you. He drinks.

You better nip this in the bud NOW.

[txinvestigator1]

and by that I mean he helped come up with the system to mark other kids off as to not let people drink without a DD. If the kids didn't have the mark they were not allowed to drink (because they were either the DD or didn't have one)

Actually a smart system... too bad it's for a stupid reason.

No, it is a stupid system. It is a system to encourage kids to break the law.