Misdemeanor and college chances...?

Applying to College
1

<p>Okay, so, this needs a bit of explanation first. So about a month or so ago, I needed to pay for my AP tests. Well, my parents and I got into a stupid argument, and they refused to pay (after having previously agreed to pay). Well, the money was due THAT day, and I didn't know what to do. So basically, I took all I had and was still like $150 short. Sooo, I went into my parents' room when they left for work and took the rest from my father. I know, it was stupid but I had intended to pay my parents back immediately (like a day or so). Anyway, my father noticed because it had been in his safe and I apparently did not close the safe in the correct way (it's really rather strange). But anyway, once he found out he was extremely angry, but not as angry as when my mother found out... She was so mad that she ended up yelling at me for over an hour, and when I tried to defend myself she said "That's it. I'm calling the police" AND SHE ACTUALLY CALLED THE POLICE! (Note: in my defense, the money had also been in an envelope with my name on it). </p>

<p>Well, a police man came and I was arrested... no joke... and sat in the back of the police car for like an hour. Anyway, my mother insisted I go to jail, but the police officer ended up writing me a citation instead. Apparently, in my state this is a Class-A Misdemeanor and I have to go to court next month. </p>

<p>So, what exactly does this mean? How are my chances going to be affected (in regards to college)? I don't turn 18 until August of 2013, like 9 months after applying to colleges, so I cannot get it expunged before then. Is it possible that I won't be charged with a misdemeanor? What should I do about this? Honestly, I believe my parents are completely overreacting- this issue should have stayed a domestic one. I've NEVER broken the law before or anything even remotely close to that. And it's not like I was shoplifting or something- I took money from my parents, that they had originally agreed to give me in the first place, that had MY name on it. </p>

<p>What's is potentially worse is that I'm applying to universities in Europe mostly (UK and Switzerland), so I am assuming that a legal offense will be taken even more seriously there (since I would be an international student). </p>

<p>Ahhh, any advice? </p>

<p>And if my parents ever become rational again and realize that a criminal offense could seriously screw me over (especially since they want me to get a job this summer...), is it possible for them to cancel the court date? Like, are my parents pressing charges against me, or is the state? I really have no idea how this works :(</p>

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<p>The state would not press charges over $150. If your parents dropped it, it would be dropped, though the arrest is on your record, if it actually was a legitimate arrest and not a “scare the kid” tactic. However, colleges would not have access to this police record.</p>

<p>If you get it expunged, I don’t think you have to report it. It’s wiped away at 18, anyway.</p>

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<p>It was one of those “scare the kid tactics”, as I never actually went to the police station, and I knew the entire time that I was not going to, but I was afraid nonetheless and just agreed with everything the officer said (even though he was making these broad, ridiculous assumptions about my life such as “why have you been such a dick to your parents, huh? You must be **** spoiled to act like that”). I couldn’t even fathom the situation it was so ridiculous. I am like the farthest opposite from spoiled, and my politeness apparently came off to him as me “acting superior to him”, etc. etc.</p>

<p>Honestly, I didn’t really understand complaints about the American judiciary system until now. And as wrong as my action was, I will never, ever forgive my parents for this. Especially because this tension has been building due to my mother, not me. </p>

<p>Haha, sorry for the rant, I’m just really upset with this whole thing.</p>

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<p>If you weren’t read your rights, your civil rights were just violated.</p>

<p>If you were read your rights, you should have closed your mouth and said nothing except “I want an attorney.”</p>

<p>Actually, even if you weren’t read your rights, you still should have done that.</p>

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<p>No, he did read me my Miranda rights, but I vaguely recollected someone I knew having had an encounter with the police and apparently he was just very polite and they made a show of it pretty much (he was arrested, and sat in the police car for some time to be “taught a lesson”). I had a feeling that would happen to me as well, so I decided that it would just make him angry if I demanded to speak to an attorney and he would have brought me to jail (since apparently it was his discretion that allowed me to stay out of jail that night).</p>

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<p>Oh, just a small side note… if something is expunged from your record as a minor, can you get the case sealed? I don’t want this to haunt me for years to come…</p>

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<p>May be, may be not.
You may want to post on the Parent forum to have better advice. A lot of CC parents know about legal process.</p>

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<p>Okay, thanks! I will do that.</p>

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<p>I’m glad you asked this in the parent forum, there are indeed a lot attny’s and informed people there. </p>

<p>@ BillyMc - I know you mean well and post a lot, but you have got to be really careful. You you tend to answer things on a quite a lot of topics here with a great deal of authority. You might want to step back and realize where you do and do not have the best information to help someone.</p>

<p>Your post #2 is full of inaccuracies. Well meaning perhaps, but inaccurate. If you have questions, refer to the OPs post in the parents forum.</p>

<p>To the OP, please seek a public defender and family counseling if at all possible. Best of luck.</p>