ratbastid

My first piece of advice is: check that attitude at the courthouse door. The judge will talk to you the way he talks to you. If you take it as condescension and have some macho 19-year-old reaction, you're boned. I acknowledge that an internet forum is different from a courtroom; I'm just saying, when you're with the judge, HE gets the respect, not you.

Well, so far on this thread everything anyone has said has been responded to with, in effect, "I already know that... asshole." So I'm not confident I can tell you ANYTHING you don't think you already know. My most heartfelt apologies if that sounds condescending--I'm interested in you getting a reality check here, not in coddling your poor wounded 19-year-old pride.

Here's my feedback that tells you something you don't already know: You did a dumb thing. Your best bet here is to own up to how dumb it was, not to try to convince the judge (or us) how smart and good you really are. People (including judges) want to help people who are humble and have some awareness of their own failings. People (including judges) want not to help people who are arrogant and think they deserve better than they're getting.

These might slightly mitigate things, but in no way change the fact that you are a minor, and you were in possession. If the judge wants to apply the full force of the law, these things won't save you. You'll get a WHOLE lot farther by saying, "Your honor, I did a dumb thing, and you better believe I won't be doing it again."

Now: When I was a lad of roughly your age, I found myself one night in a public park drinking beer with some buds, one of whom was shooting bottle rockets. A motorcycle cop cruised up into the park. We coolly walked away from the beer toward our cars (and the cop). When we met him, we told him we'd seen some people there with the bottle rockets and such, but they ran off. He thanked us and drove toward where we'd left our stuff. We ran as fast as humans can run down to our cars and got the hell out of there. When he saw us running, obviously, he knew the deal and pulled us over about half a block away from the park.

Technically I was arrested, though the cop released me on my own recognizance. I was charged with minor in possession, public consumption, possession of illegal fireworks (all fireworks are illegal in Utah except for certain dates), trespassing (it was after park closing hours) and littering.

I never got in front of a judge about it. I was asked to meet with somebody from the DA's office down at juvenile hall. My parents and I went in and I got a lecture about my future and potential and what have you. The guy dropped all the charges in exchange for my agreeing to do 20 hours of community service and an appropriate display of humility.