Legal Question in Juvenile Dependency in Massachusetts

I have temporary custody of my 14 year old nephew. he is being charged with federal larceny for stealing 500 plus dollars from a school event, they called it a not for profit charity. This is his first charge, yet a month earlier he got caught shop lifting at the grocery store, candy a lot of candy but they didnt want to get the police involved. yet the police officer pressing the charges on the larceny has record of this incident as well as him being brought home by the police a month before that for being out after 11pm and involved in a group that were throwing rocks at someones house. I dont know what to expect. We live in Mass ...i cant afford a lawyer and i would rather he is given the max punishment for this as he just doesnt get it. he also lied every time he was caught and only told the truth after being badgered for hours by officers. and still tries to minimize his involvement, he entered the school by a door that had been propped open by another student with the intention of taking money he knew a teacher had in her desk...he took that and on the way out noticed the box of money from the event going on at the school and told a friend that it was there...they then planned the crime, split the money up and hoped it would all blow over. Not realizing there were cameras in the area. He lied several times when given the chance to come clean and give the money back. Only when he was shown the video tape did he come up with some story about how he is only partly guilty. He also seems to be doing drugs...has stolen money from family and caused major issue to the point that i am the only family member left willing to deal with him. I have a 14 year old daughter , honor roll student, stays out of trouble and she is starting to hate having him in the house. I am worried he will bring nothing but trouble to my family. Please let me know , is there a chance the judge will see his potential for drug abuse and criminal behavior and what will he get in terms of punishment?

Thank you for your advise. sorry if i sound so harsh ...I just have gone through so much in such a small amount of time and the child does nothing but lie about everything and go to friends houses and tells their parents how he has nothing and no one loves him to get them to give him things like ipods, bikes and take him places. I just want him to get help, i think with the right help he can possibly beat the odds.


Asked on 6/18/10, 3:23 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

henry lebensbaum Law Offices of Henry Lebensbaum (978-749-3606)

get him a lawyer.

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Answered on 6/20/10, 8:20 am


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