Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Missouri

Accusation Of Theft

My husband and I in July took in his nephew who is 17 and was thrown out of his home. Apparently along wiht him came some stolen goods from his home he was thrown out of. He lived with us for about 3 months, in this time frame he did not follow rules and did things we thought inappropriate.He was asked to leave. He brought with him a cell phone with which he let my daughter use and told her she could keep it, she is also 17. Using someone elses cell phone to these teenagers is something they have done forever. They share them. This cell phone we thought was my nephews but to our surprise it was not. The owners of the cell phone now 8 months later have had my daughter supoened on recieving stolen propoerty and stealing. The nephew somehow is out of the picture on all accounts. My daughter has never been in trouble with the law before is a good student 4.0 grade average and college riding on scholarship of which she will mot get if convicted. what do we do now and what are our rights,. Also all of the teens in this neighborhood have apparently used the cell phome also. Like I say the y seem to all share phones. Help


Asked on 4/03/03, 9:39 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Anthony DeWitt Bartimus, Frickleton Robertson & Gorny, PC

Re: Accusation Of Theft

You don't state if this is a civil issue or a criminal issue. If it is a criminal issue, then you need to get good criminal representation immediately as your child's future is at stake.

If this is a civil issue, you should probably call your homeowners insurance company and ask them if this is a covered matter. It may well be.

If this is a criminal matter, you need a good lawyer to handle this matter because a conviction on a charge of receiving stolen goods can be quite devastating, and it sounds as though your daughter had no idea the phone was stolen.

If the matter is a civil matter, your insurance company should be asked to handle it.

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Answered on 4/04/03, 4:36 pm


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