[jackr]

Just get your GED, find some kind of work you like to do, and then tell everyone to fuck off if they don't dig your lifestyle.

I cant agree with that.

[jackr]

____ sorry about this post--- I dont know how it got here!!

[gumbo]

Okay, dude, then just keep doing what you are doing and you can be sure that life will continue on the way it is currently. Is that what you want?

Geez you come in here talking about rough childhood, trouble with this and that, now getting a busted for pot.

Your life is apparently in trumoil but after laying your drama you get sound advice and that makes you all defensive.

I'll be sure to refrain from your next drama thread.

Please do. I wouldnt post and ask for your advice if I wouldnt take it, or at least listen. I believe I've made it perfectly clear I appreciate all (especially Jackr) of your advice in my *one* other drama thread. I never said anything about a rough child hood, I just laid it out like it was played out, and it seems like you came to that conclusion. Btw, I'm not expelled either, it was handed over to the DA and now I just wait to see what happens with the law.

[myoung6923]

Ok - if it was handed over to the DA - what evidence do they have? Were you caught with anything - or your friend? Was anything found in the area? Any paraphanalia?

Are you suspended for the week?

Also, were you somewhere where you shouldn't have been - did you sneak out of school or something and then got popped after coming back. Where did the joint smoking actually happen - how did they find out about it?

[jackr]

Someone may have seen him smoking.

Otherwise with no evidence other then being with someone who reeked and no drug test - DENY DENY DENY! Dont cop a plea. It can haunt you.

He also got caught with a leatherman. If they consider that an illegal weapon then I see no way out of that if the search was legal.

[gumbo]

The "weapon" conflict was handed over to them. The school suspended me until monday for the smoking and "weapon." I totally denied smoking at all, but due to the circumstances, the administrator didnt care or believe me so he suspended me anyway. Anyone know what I can expect from this? as in the whole knife thing and whats likely to happen with it?

[myoung6923]

Well, the knife thing could be a problem - maybe not - just depends on the school administration.

Since Columbine, schools have really adopted a no tolerance approach to weapons on school grounds. I heard of a case where little girl was expelled from like 2nd grade because her mom packed a butter knife in her lunch box. Now that's extreme.

My son was caught in 8th grade with a swiss army knife and they suspended him for 5 days - they could have expelled him but they believed him that it was unintentional and that it was more of a tool than a weapon.

It's in the hands of the administration - they can go to any extreme they want. It depends on a couple of things - have they been heavy handed with these things in the past? If so, then they are likely to do the same to you. If they really are out to nail you for something they certainly could use this to hang you for it. Or, if they believe that you're a good kid and it was a simple mistake and that it was not actually a "weapon" then they might be ok with just a suspension. Whatever the case, beg and plead with them and tell them that it was unintentional - grovel.

As far a legal issue - I don't really see that happening. Yeah, it's against school policy to have a weapon in school - a leatherman is not illegal to posess in itself and very arguably is more of a tool. If the DA decided to take it to court - that could easily be fought. But it would then require retaining a lawyer and $$$. Even if it did go to court you could certainly make your case - and as long as you have no other record, the judge will let go very easy.

But - you KNEW what the school policy was and you still decided to bring it in - tool or not - you knew that you would be in big trouble just for having it. So, very bad judgement on your part. You need to be much smarter than that and DON'T put yourself in that situation. Don't hand someone the rope to hang you with. If you think that they are trying to get you - and after this, they very well might be - DON'T GIVE THEM THE CHANCE!!! Make much better choices and stay out of shit while you are in school - don't mess around like that.

[dre]

It's kinda funny reading all the responses it seems that pretty much none of you followed your own advice growin up. People usually have to go through their own changes and figure out life their own way. You can't really tell a kid to just stop smokin weed etc.. hell what if jerry took your advice.. yea he might be alive today workin as an insurance agent but lol no grateful dead. Not that I think this kid is the next Jerry Garcia but you get my drift.

That said there is some good advice here fo sho.. watch each card and play it slow bud. Be smart about who you hang out with and all that. Don't do dumb shit like packin a knife at school ever. Only get high when you are 90% sure you can get away with it. Keep those grades up and you will be good to go.

[strumminsix]

It's kinda funny reading all the responses it seems that pretty much none of you followed your own advice growin up. People usually have to go through their own changes and figure out life their own way.

Umm, ya I did. I partied so hard in college but pulled out with decent grades, in 4 years, and stopped all partying when it was getting out of control. It's being diciplined and that is the best lesson that can be learned from all this, IMO.

You can't really tell a kid to just stop smokin weed etc..

Why not? It's obviously hurting him now.

[dre]

It's kinda funny reading all the responses it seems that pretty much none of you followed your own advice growin up. People usually have to go through their own changes and figure out life their own way.

Umm, ya I did. I partied so hard in college but pulled out with decent grades, in 4 years, and stopped all partying when it was getting out of control. It's being diciplined and that is the best lesson that can be learned from all this, IMO.

You can't really tell a kid to just stop smokin weed etc..

Why not? It's obviously hurting him now.

ok nancy reagan

[gumbo]

As far a legal issue - I don't really see that happening. Yeah, it's against school policy to have a weapon in school - a leatherman is not illegal to posess in itself and very arguably is more of a tool. If the DA decided to take it to court - that could easily be fought. But it would then require retaining a lawyer and $$$. Even if it did go to court you could certainly make your case - and as long as you have no other record, the judge will let go very easy.

Do you really think thats the case? Because now that you put it like that I do feel much better. This morning I called the administrator and apologized for my actions and attitude, which helped a lot. I was assured I wont be expelled which felt really good to hear. As for a record, I technically dont have one. The worst I have done was draw a picture on a stairwell (which got me sucked into social services), which when I was released, I was told will not be on my record. Also, to verify, it will be up to the DA if they want to mess with it? and if they do, I should get off easy (which would be what)??

[myoung6923]

It's kinda funny reading all the responses it seems that pretty much none of you followed your own advice growin up. People usually have to go through their own changes and figure out life their own way.

I hear what you are saying. But, what this guy has at his fingertips that most of us didn't is this group. This is truly a group of his peers that understand where he's coming from and where he's going - having gone through it ourselves.

I didn't listen to a word that my parents told me at that age - because I din't think that they were my peers and that they had no idea where I was coming from.

I wish that I had a group like this when I was his age. If I had a group of older hippies that had travelled my path and could point me the clear path through the minefield of life - I sure would have listened and trusted their advice.

So, while I didn't listen to the advice back then that I give now - I would have if it were delivered by a group that I respected as my equals such as this one.

[myoung6923]

Also, to verify, it will be up to the DA if they want to mess with it? and if they do, I should get off easy (which would be what)??

Well, I don't know. But I'd be surprised if some DA wanted to waste the courts time over a leatherman in school - it would be different if it was a gun or a machete or something. Something that's clearly illegal to posess they would prosecute. But they could easily be made to look pretty petty if they are going to take you to court over a leatherman. That IS all it was - right?

That doesn't mean that some over zealous DA with a chip on his shoulder could take a hard stance and really try to ram it to you. Take a look at the Duke lacrosse player's rape case - the DA (Nifong) went to huge extremes to nail those kids for a crime that he really had no evidence of. Now, luckily, those kids got off, Nifong was disbarred and chucked in jail - if only for a day. But, a DA is an individual and it's really up to him how hard he wants to press things. It certainly doesn't mean he automatically gets the outcome that he wants though.

Considering the school isn't going to take a hard line on it by expelling you I really can't see the DA going nuts over it.

Hopefully you won't have to go to court over it - but if you do - you have pretty good grounds to keep it from being a criminal charge.

[gumbo]

Sooo, you really dont think the DA will do anything, and if it does, it cant be much? If thats the case, then I'm very releaved. I was honestly thinking I would be charged with a felony, not to mention being back into the dreded system.

[Rev_Roach]

The DA (or more specifically, the assistant DA assigned to you) has the power to press the charge or not, and its very likely he will choose not to. If you do catch a case here it can probably be resolved by some type of first offender's program. Here in NY its Adjournment on Contemplation Of Dismissal (ACOD) and I know some states have a similar thing called Probation Before Justice (PBJ like the sandwich). Regardless of the name they mean that you stay out of trouble for another six months or year and the charge is dropped. Unfortunately you can only use this once, and you'll need to pay a lawyer to get you it, so hopefully you won't have to.

You didn't mention any police involvement the day of the incident? Was there? If you didn't get cuffed or even ticketed its pretty unlikely that you will get charged.