What are the chances I will go to jail/possible outcomes?

Star108

If you have no record and you have your life together, I think you will most likely get probation, have to replace the computer, and pay a fine. If they can drop it down to a misdemeanor you may just get a fine and possible unsupervised probation, which basically means if you f*ck up your in trouble but you dont have to check in each week and stuff.

amos

most likely you will only get probation, if that. get some fines, and have to pay for the computer. good luck

Diana B

No record?
Sure. Sorry to sound skeptical, but it seems that just about everybody who posts on this subject after having gotten in trouble is young, in school, working, has never gotten in trouble before and did what they did because they were with friends - it's never something they can ever take responsibility for.

"We've had multiple prosecutors tell us that they were willing to lower the charges to a misdemeanor "

Multiple prosecutors? Sorry - but that doesn't fly either. If the prosecutor really wanted to drop this to a misdemeanor, he could have done that any time he wanted to - prosecutors have the sole discretion as to whether to charge (and to what severity) in a criminal case. The civilian owner can bring his own civl case.

Of course, good luck to him ever seeing a dime of his money. That;s because, even if you do get a misdemeanor, you will end up having a criminal record and a pretty obonoxious one at that. Are you in school on financial aid? You may want to look into that. Job applications? They ask if you've been convocted of a crime - and that includes misdemeanors. Sorry, but Yahoo law is wrong on this one - contrary to many posters on this subject, misdemeanors are crimes, and your record for a misdemeanor is forever....

"Trial is next week. What do you think will happen?"
Have you been indicted for wrecking the kid's computer? That has to happen before the trial.

"This has been going on since November but its starting to get serious..."

Actually, if it's goiung to trial after pending for that long, it's been serious for a while and you've been slow on the uptake.

Best case scenario - a felony conviction with probation and restitution. Hopefully the computer wasn't too new and he was able to save his data. The judge will probably sign some order relieving you of the most severe civil disabilities of a felony conviction (if you were indicted), but you will still have a criminal conviction.

wild side

First off you shouldn't have done what you did. 2 wrongs do not make a right. What if someone had done that to your stuff? Second. Since it is your first offense they will most likely not stick you with the felony. But if the Dad pushes hard enough they could. Most likely they will charge you with the misdemeanor and make you pay for repair or buy the kid a new computer. You will have fines and court costs and will probably have court supervision or probation for awhile. If you do not have a lawyer get one or go to court and explain that you have been unable to find legal counsel and have limited funds due to being a college student and ask for a public defender. If the kids father is pushing hard enough for the felony you need someone in your corner. If you do get a felony conviction for vandalism I think (I'm not positive) you could face up to a year in jail and large fines. You do not want a felony on your record. You can get kicked out of school and never be allowed to attend a college again as well as a vast array of other things. It will be there for life. Regardless of what charge you get, if you are placed on any kind of probation or supervision you will need to keep your grades up, your attendance perfect, your job in good standing and keep your nose clean (so to speak). They will check all of these things at will. Any sort of problems and they can revoke the conditions and pull you back in. Plus if you get into any more trouble they can revoke your probation or what ever and if the charge is similar can revert back to the first one and then watch out! Your best bet...get a lawyer.

3am

You won't go to jail. If it weren't for the felony, you would be put on a ARD first time offenders program.
Most likely you will either get house arrest, wearing an ankle GPS bracelet for a few months and be allowed out for work and school... or probation, or both. You will also have to pay damages and court costs.

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