Legal Question in Juvenile Dependency in Michigan

Re: Juvenile Offenders

It's hard to respond to your question because there are too many unknown facts.

First, did the juveniles actually plead guilty? If not, then tell the juvies to schedule the cases for trial. If so, then they heard the judge or referee tell them (presumably with their parents in the courtroom) that they had the right to an appointed attorney if they could not afford to hire one. They must have waived that right before they pled.

Second, the judge/referee would have asked them during the plea process if they were pleading guilty due to threats or coersion, and the plea would not have been accepted if they had said "yes". So they must have said "no", right?

Third, at this court appearance where the "prosecutor herded all the teens and parents" together and "forcefully implied that the teens should take a plea deal", did the parents ever ASK to see the police report?

Fourth, what are they complaining about right now: whether their kids have a legal defense to the charge that they didn't know about? The amount of restitution? Etc? My guess is that is all about the money, and when the parents found out abuot the cost to repair the damages, and that it was not a pro rata (percentage share) order, they flipped. But, the restitution laws require "joint & several liability" orders, no pro rata.

I recommend that they consult with a private attorney in their area who handles adult criminal and juvenile delinquency cases and go over all the case facts with a copy of the report (that they can get from the prosecutor or police), and see if there is an "out". One possibility is to file a "motion to withdraw guilty plea", but those are tough to win after the sentencing has occurred.