A conviction for any criminal offense can lead to negative consequences. Yet, juveniles who wind up facing allegations of criminal wrongdoing can have a lot at stake. First of all, these young individuals may not know that what they are doing is a criminal offense, if they’ve done anything wrong at all. Yet, if they are convicted of a juvenile crime they can wind up facing harsh penalties, as well as a record that can drastically affect their future. Their reputation can be damaged, too, which may be something that is hard to repair at a young age. With so much on the line, juveniles who have been accused of a criminal act should carefully consider their criminal defense options.
Two Florida teens may need to do this now after being taken into custody for allegedly making violent threats. According to reports, one 15-year-old boy was charged with a felony after allegedly posting a video of himself on social media holding what appeared to be an assault rifle. The video also contained a message discouraging others from attending school the next day, thereby giving some the impression that he was intending to conduct a school shooting.
The other individual who was arrested for making threats was taken into custody after allegedly posting those threats on a Facebook group. The authorities indicate that the accused individual threatened to shoot another person if she did not respond to his message. The recipient of the alleged threat told her mother about the statements, who then reported it to the school.
With social media playing such an important role in kids’ lives, the police are taking threats made there quite seriously. Even if it is meant as a joke, making statements like the ones above can lead to criminal charges. Those who are facing these types of charges, or other allegations, should think about discussing the matter with a qualified legal professional who may be able to help craft a strong defense strategy that seeks to avoid most, if not all, potential penalties.