Legal Question in Criminal Law in Missouri

I am being accused of wrecking a car. The owner, knowing that I did not have a driver's license, asked me to drive with his 2 children in the car. It was later driven by his girlfriend. It was wrecked into a stop sign and had some damage. The insurance deposit to fix it is $1000. He said that unless I write out a statement saying I did it and describing exactly what happened and pay the $1000 dollars he will press charges for grand theft auto, child endangerment, and destruction of personal property. If I was convicted, how long would I be in prison for? I am unemployed and can't afford to pay him or to hire a lawyer. What should I do?


Asked on 10/18/09, 2:29 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Anthony Smith LawSmith

If the girlgfriend wrecked into the stop sign, you are nto responsible for the damage, unless you knew that he had not given her permission to drive the vehicle. If he asked you to drive his two schildren, he should not be able to obtain ajudgmetn against you for ding as he asked. (although you might get aticket for driving w/out alicense, but that is doubtful) Tell your friend that you view his threat as an attempted extortion to get him to go along with his schele to defraud his insurer. If he thinks you might tell the insurer, thereby making him responsible for all the damage (not just the #1,000 deductible) he might leave you alone.

Good luck

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Answered on 10/19/09, 3:17 pm


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