Legal Question in Criminal Law in Pennsylvania

How much trouble will i get in...Charged with arson and causing or risking catastrophe what will happen?

Honestly I'm a good kid who makes bad decisions especially when drunk. I'm a college student at an excellent private university and I have gotten into a little bit of a mess. A few nights ago I was drunk and I have no idea what I was thinking but I set a trash can on fire inside of a dorm housing 1200 students.

I saw the fire but left and did nothing because I was drunk and that I did not believe it would spread (all that was surrounding the trashcan was a tile floor and brick walls) and I wanted to avoid trouble--I guess that's how my drunk logic goes.

Who knows why but I proceeded to light fire to a couch (I'm still a little blurry as to how I did it) but then stomped it out as I saw it was getting big. After being caught by campus police I told them that lit cigarettes were the cause of both fires (this is a lie).

I was arrested with 2 counts of causing or risking a catastrophe (felony level 3) and a count of arson (Felony level 1). After waiting countless hours to see the judge I was released that night immediately after seeing the judge on a non monetary bond (I was OR'd I guess its called). This is my first time being arrested but I did have a citation in the summer for trespassing which I never had to go to court for and the officer told me it's like "getting a traffic ticket".

I have to appear to court soon and I plan on confessing that my statement (the part about cigarettes) was a lie. I lied because I am attending a good private university and I have a future which I basically destroyed and I thought I could get away with it.

Well, I was drunk, does this help with dropping the charge of intent? When a woman consents to a man to have sex when she is drunk she can cry rape (and I have seen it done before) because while drunk she cannot consent to sex. Can this carry on to me being drunk and doing something ignorant but not getting full punishment due to the intoxication? I realize I will probably still be charged with causing or risking catastrophe because of my ignorance. I now am regretful of my stupidity of not putting out the fire in the trash can but I guess it's good I was smart enough to put out the couch fire. My sober self would never have done either act to such an extent.

Never was I angry at the university nor did I have the intent to burn the building down (the police asked me both of these questions). I love my university and would hate to leave itI was just a drunk kid making the dumbest mistake of his life. Help?

What will happen? Jail time? Probation? I'm really worried.


Asked on 11/20/09, 4:33 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
John Davidson Law Office of John A. Davidson

Being voluntarily intoxicated is only a defense to First Degree Murder.

A 3rd degree felony is a maximum of 7 years and or a fine of up to $15,000.

If your a kid what are you do getting drunk. Admitting to that is a confession to yet another crime. Further if you know that when you get drunk you act like an idiot then you should know not to drink and realize its not a defense.

If you don't have one you best get a lawyer. Also, you need to get into alcohol rehab NOW.

Oh and if you talked the police that was your worst move.

{John}

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Answered on 11/25/09, 9:34 am


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