Somewhere back a few pages someone talked about a place in CAL that protects people from lawyers and/or court proceedings that are unfair, like when lawyers don't show up. stuff like that.

I have to go but maybe you can find that link. I will check in tommorow writer. Have a peaceful night, try not to worry and keep your chin up.

Our attorney's investigator has asked us to gather as many character reference letters as we can by Thursday, so we are in the process of doing that.

We have a meeting tomorrow night with our Bishop. I'm going to have him talk to my son because he might listen to someone outside the family about not giving up hope.

My son was threatened tonight in an IM exchange by someone he thought was a friend on Facebook. I don't know if this boy is connected to the victim (he said he doesn't know her but then said "I'm more tied in than imaginable.") The kid basically admitted that he has been after my son for 2 months now and my son told me the kid has been trying to get him to meet him places outside our home (obviously to beat him up). I wrote this boy a message informing him that I will be calling the police if he threatens my son again. We saved a copy of the IM conversation.

My son is very fearful that this girl's friends and family are going to do something to him/us if this case doesn't end the way that they want it to. My attorney said that we cannot get the restraining order until after the case is resolved (unless they do something blatant and obvious between now and then). I don't even feel safe in my own home anymore. I'm very worried about what will happen, especially since we have a baby in the house. This isn't a good environment for any of us to be in, but I don't know what to do. I don't have anywhere to go. I'm not sleeping well because I'm constantly worried about someone breaking into our house in the night and doing something to my family.

This is such a nightmare. Will it ever end?

I posted about the California Innocence Project. The Innocence project is for getting wrongful convictions overturned, generally by DNA testing. But, they might have some resources for Writer, so that she could determine whether or not her lawyer was doing his job.

I also found a crisis center in LA that may have some resources for writer. And you can even call these folks collect. I'm sure there have got to be teen crisis centers that could help. Our city is quite small in comparison to LA, and we have a few teen crisis centers.

I was also posting these resources, as a starting place to find lawyers that might be willing to take a case Pro Bono.

I'm glad though, that writer, you are seeing the Bishop. I hope he has the resources to point you in the right direction in the 11th hour, for you and your son's sake.

I think there's a link to the innocents project on the false rape site.

Writer...when this is said and done, I'd get him some mace or pepper spray if he's legally allowed to have it. How far away is his biological father? I haven't followed your history. Is it feasible for his father to take him for a while?

Has your attorney questioned this girl? Isn't that allowed? Is she aware what sort of trouble she can get into if this is ruled as a false claim?

His bio-dad is the invisable man. He is hiding out in mexico most the time.

Wonder why the lawyer said you couldn't get a restraining order, hmm, it doesn't make semse to me. Is her family bullit-proof somehow?

Last I knew all you had to do is show up at the courthouse for a protection order, and swear out a complaint, you didn't need a lawyer, The DA becomes one for you. I hate to keep disrespecting your atty, but again ...

It is like I either support your lawyer so you have peace and work with him or I support you with what in my opinion makes sense. I am sorry for the confusion that I might be bringing you when i critisize him.

I would have called the police on the person threatening your son.

This girl, because she has been allowed to spread her version of the story,(or lies), has become quite the innocent victim hasn't she? At least in the eyes of the community and stupid vigilatne types. I hope she is enjoying this new identity as the poor suffering victim. So much for the ways of the 15 mins of fame she is getting, along with this story she will milk into her adulthood, just like her mother did according to the school source you heard from. Her life is doomed but she wants to take down everyone with her.

All the threats are based on her version of what happened, and now it seems ever more important that the truth be brought out in public, so maybe court is a blessing in disguise. Imagine if she told this lie to her next boyfrind so convincingly, or some other sucker. What retaliation against your son might happen then?

I truly hope justice is served here for both your son and her, along with the community, but even then, there are the types who will claim your son got away with it, and that the system is unfair.

Because he has been tried and found guilty allready by his peers who she has influenced with her story, I would believe that he is going to suffer these threats at least for a while, but it is even more important that wenchs lies are revealed publicly, and that she is exposed. At least some of the idiots coming to her "rescue" will see the light, and back off.


I hope your lawyer is up for the battle, and your sons name is cleared for his sake, her sake, and for Gods sake.

I am praying for the miracle at 11:59

This is unacceptable and needs to be remedied. I think the best long term plan is for you and your family to move, preferably out of Kalifonee.

I agree that this girl will continue to spread this drama around for many, many years. Weather your son is exonerated or not.

However, moving does not help in the immediate, so lets address what we can about home security on a budget..

1. Are all locks on the house functional?

2. Is the area around the house well lit, or very dark?

3. Do you have deadbolts on all the doors?

4. Do you have a free roving biological alarm system?
If not, I recommend this model for indoor use.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maltese_dog
And this model for outdoor use.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotweiller
These systems are inexpensive to own, and are simple to install.

5. If an intruder (Or Zombie) breaches your defense parameter, I recommend a last minute audible warning. The sound produced by arming this device is typically enough to repel any intruder. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pump-action_shotgun

Obviously, I put a little humor in the above, but my message is genuine. Do what you can to make your home a safe place.



Also, I want to talk to you a little bit about courtroom appearance. Do not let your son go to court dressed normally. He may think his "Yoda is my homeboy" shirt, baggy cargo pants, and Nike shocks are cool, but the judge will be less than impressed.

Slacks, polished shoes, pressed shirt, and a tie are expected, a matching sport coat would not be a bad idea.

And, if he is like any of the kids I know....
Get his hair cut!

Gack, you make me laugh.

Yes, our locks are functional, door have dead bolts, and we keep the lights on at the front and sides of the house all night. We've been doing this since our house was broken into about a year ago.

For our roving biological alarm system, we are currently using this model:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pit_Bull

I couldn't agree more about getting the heck out of Dodge. There is no love lost between me and California.

As far as court goes, my son has worn a long sleeved shirt, tie, and dress pants to every court appearance, nice and freshly pressed. My H and I wear dress attire as well, even though we're just sitting in the back of the courtroom.

The "victim" generally shows up in jeans, T-shirt, and some sort of beanie on her head. Her father prefers this attire for all court appearances:
http://www.exposay.com/celebrity-ph...eason-5-grand-finale-arrivals-14t5cg.jpg

Well SC, no was not the case. But, I need to put you on ignore, and you need to do same. Could be embarassing if someone did notice that you posted to a sub-human.

TR

Why are you coming here disrupting this thread?

Writer,

Sorry, I hadn't read all of your recent story here and didn't fully realize what pressure you are under. I only made my suggestions as far as menus because I felt you were really at end of line financially at this point in time.

I sort of felt that a plea deal was in works, but now it does seem your son is going to trial. Just a suggestion based on my experience with my son several years ago. It was a misdemeanor, but still he was very concerned. The attorney we had coached him before we ever got to his juvenile court date on what to expect and what to say to the judge. It was not a trial and only the police officer was there for questions and to verify the report. Along that line, if Thursday is the day, has the attorney coached him yet in any way as to what to expect and what to say? That step may help him to alleviate some of his worry and lethargy. I am thinking that you do Not want to get to court that day and get last minute coaching by your attorney. If the attorney as not done this then my god you are surely not getting your money's worth. Will say some prayers.

Tom

I took care of the menu problem by completely losing my appetite and giving up on eating, but if it ever returns, I certainly appreciate the suggestions.

No, my attorney has not done any sort of coaching, which I find very odd. He says we're supposed to be proceeding as though the trial is going to happen, but I don't see much of anything in the way of preparations, other than the character reference letters he asked us to get. I certainly don't want my son to have to take the stand without being prepared in any way. This is a huge concern for me. I think the attorney is acting on the presumption that we're going to get a last minute plea bargain, but if that doesn't come through, we are going to be in a very bad situation.

I jump every time the phone rings. I carry the phone with me everywhere I go just so that I won't miss any calls. I've even started taking it into the shower with me.

Still no word from the attorney today.

My H called the attorney. He'd already left the office for the day (at 4:15), without calling us. According to his secretary, there has still been no word from the DA. She threw around the C word (continuance) which I find interesting, considering the fact that the judge made it pretty clear the last few times we were in court that he did not intend to continue the case again. Of course, our attorney wouldn't know that, since he wasn't actually in the courtroom for our last two appearances. Now I'm afraid that we may be forced into a trial that we are most definitely not prepared for. Our attorney has told us NOTHING about what to prepare for in trial. He hasn't gone over any strategy with us whatsoever. We would be flying completely blind. As a last resort, if the judge refuses our request for a continuance, I will in all likelihood fire the attorney on the spot. If we don't have representation, I'm assuming they cannot go ahead with the trial and will have no choice but to grant the continuance. At the very least, it would buy us some time. We'd have to find another attorney of course, and that would likely have to be a PD, since we have no more money.

I would be hard pressed to come up with any system less efficient than the American judicial system. As soon as this is over, I'm moving to Tahiti and retiring on a beach never to be seen in civilization again.

Lol what makes you think tahiti is void of corruption?

Well , at least get out of california, or join the crypts or the bloods for protection.

I guess its "rape case central" in that state.

Have you found out what is the law according to what would happen if you fired Clarence Darrow on the day of the trial? It might go on anyway, and this dipwad doesn't seem prepared.

Then again, he might allready know the girls family is dirty, and convinced the DA. The DA might want to see it for himself by interviewing them, then with some character vouchers in hand, get it to be pleaded.

That would suck as far as proving innocence, but its not uncommen for these lawyers to know each other, and talk to each other about "How they see it", while giving you the impression that it the best you can get. Its very much about money, and time.

Well I hope there is good news tommorow, because that seems like it will be when the plea will, if so, done.

Otherwise you have court the next day, again be careful firing him in open court, but I would consider sueing him if he screws it up.

I doubt the Judge would allow YOU to fire the attorney on the spot if a continuance is denied. He would just see it as a manipulation to get things delayed in spite of his ruling and it would probably piss him off. Added to that, your son is now 18 and the attorney actually works for HIM.

But I'm the one who hired the attorney and signed the contract. And I would rather piss off the judge than go to trial unprepared.

Very true, its your sons choice, All you can do is encourage him and be his cheerleader. Judging from your sons,(understandable), attitude that hes screwed and hopelessness, he will probably feel forced to take whatever he is dealt him.

You can only pray that the 5G bought you enough and/or the attorney goes to trial with the right tools and conviction that he will win this.

Hoping and praying that good news comes today. God comes through many times at the 11th hour.

Edited.. But even though you hired him, payed him, or can fire him. What is the law about whether the judge will have to continue? He might just be able to have the trial go on anyways, and then you have a ticked off judge, lawyer, and a son who will probably be upset with you too.

It could be worse

Here we are "Presumed" (Wink wink, knudge, knudge) innocent until "Found" guilty.

In more socialized countries you ARE guilty, until "Found" innocent..... And you aren't found innocent unless you have enough money to buy off the judge.

Well, from what I can see so far, this is precisely how things work in our system, perhaps not on paper, but in actuality at least. From the moment we walked into that courtroom, the girl has been referred to as the "victim" which presupposes that a crime has actually been committed and that my son "victimized" her. How is that presuming he is innocent? He has been arrested, thrown into juvenile hall, placed on 4 months home supervision, lost the right to finish his senior year of high school and walk at his graduation ceremony with his classmates. He has most definitely been punished for a crime he still has not even been found "guilty" of.

Don't fool yourself. There's no such thing as innocent until proven guilty. That I can assure you of.

Get as many people as you can along with the character vouchers to go with you tommorow.

Also, if investigating the computer buys you more time, maybe it will help you if your lawyer isn't prepared, grows a conscience, and decides to counter attack the family who is threatening you.

Besides it might be a way to prove your son didn't send those negative IMs, at least they didn't come from his computer if he had deleted the application from his comp, and although he could have logged on somewhere else, I bet if you contacted AOL or whomever they will show that he didn't contact anyone else during that time.

A full investigation might bring this out.

I think your son, who as you said is gennerally a good kid, is overwhelmed with guilt and shame, that is why he has quit. Encourage him to do the unthinkable and outrageous act of forgiving himself, not make excuses, hes to smart for that, but forgiving.

Nobody can change what has happened, but the truth has to be told, and the truth is she humped him willingly with all the evil intentions rebelious little girls have in thier hearts. Now she is making him pay for her loss and sacrifice to him in the name of whatever she worships.