Q: 18 year old "impeding" investigation, still in high school and lives at home. Please read details
My step son just turned 18 last month, is still living under his mother's roof and attending high school. He thought was he was helping a friend (16), who had gotten in a fight with her mother, mother was constantly trying to get ahold of her daughter via text and cell (hers), but she'd decline. She stayed with him, A day or two later he dropped friend off at her dad's. Mother had filed a missing person report, in the mean time. Police showed up, questioning him on her where abouts. He told them he had no clue, considering he dropped her off a few hrs prior. The police told him if he would cooperate no charges would be filed. He informed them that he dropped her off at her dad's earlier in the day (he didn't mention this at first). No parent was home during the time of questioning. They charged him with impeding an investigation. Is this possible, without a parent present? Also what would be the odds of actually getting convicted?
A: (1) It is possible. Indeed, it already happened. An 18 year old is an adult as far as the law is concerned, and even with a child, police are permitted to investigate without a parent present. (2) The odds of conviction are unknowable at this point. All we have is your story, which is different than his story, which is different than her story, which is different than the story the police will tell, which is different than the story the mother will tell, which is different than the story the father will tell...you get the idea? (3) He should get a lawyer.
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