Legal Question in Juvenile Dependency in Ohio

14yr old Ohio teen charges

Long Story Short. Our son 14 was caught with 2 other boys catching spray cans on fire. No damage was done. After being called in to speak with the juvenile det, he was placed on village's diversion program. Det told us during the questing that this would be a felony2 if he went to county Juv system. Short time later he was expelled out of our local school for failing to perform. I was just served that the det filed a complaint with our county Juv system charging our son with deliquency and/or unruly child. On the complaint it states that he commited Criminal Damaging of ORC 2909.09A2 a 1st degree misdemeanor. We have a prelim hearing on 1/17/2007.

One of the papers that came in the packet to bring an att or one will be appointed (at court costs). This amazed me for a misdemeanor. We are not in a financial position to get an att. So as I looked up this charge it states that it really is only a 2nd degree unless a person was injured and there was not. I have so many ????'s

Is this charge right for this offense? Will he be sent to detention or just probabtion? Will there be court $$$ and fines? Who will be present at the hearing? What is the diff in the hearings? Do I need an atty? Can I get court atty before?


Asked on 1/09/07, 6:48 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Joseph Jacobs Jacobs & Lowder

Re: 14yr old Ohio teen charges

Your first appearance will afford you the opportunity to do deny the charge, which you must do. You will be assessed to see if you are eligible to have an attorney appointed for you. Feel free to call me in the meantime. 216.952.1990. the ultimate result will depend on how well your son improves. He is obviously heading down the wrong path, and significant changes alone will impress the court enough to avoid a conviction....he cannot take a conviction of any kind in this case, as it will appear on his record when he starts getting into trouble as an adult. These latest occurences should be a big red flag for you as the parent to intervene dramatically...now.

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Answered on 1/11/07, 4:43 pm


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