Legal Problems.....any advice

July 26, 2010

My 12 yr old son was dx with AS 5 months ago after he set a fire on my neighbors

back porch. Thank God the only damage was to their siding, it could have been

devasting. I always knew my son had more issues going on than ADHD, but until

this episode it was never DX. So this is when all the issues began. The

police asked me to bring my son down to get booked, mug shot, finger prints and

all..he was charged with arson. They said it would take a few months for court

date.

After this I had him put in an acute partial hospital where he went during the

day for about a month. After he was discharged, all went really good. His new

meds seemed to be working, his attitude was much better. After a few weeks, it

seemed he missed going to the acute partial and started acting out again. I

believe with the hopes of going back. He ran away 4-5 times, had to have police

called. 1 time the poice actually chased him down in the woods to bring him

back. It was getting to a point that the police knew him and branded him a

runner. His behaviors worsened to the point where he went back the acute

partial, the psychiatrist changed his meds....behaviors did not improve,

actually felt they were worsening.

Now 5 months after the fire incident, I get a notice that he needs to have a

parole intake for the arson charge. I let me son know that we will be going to

this next week and that he will need to be on his best behavior because we

can't keep calling police for his running away episodes after he is on parole.

The very same day I have this talk with him, he has another meltdown because he

wasn't listening to me when I asked him to come in the house and he took off

running again.

This time it turns out that police got called for an incident involving him

before I even got to calling and reporting him. Turns out some woman was

walking her dog, he was near her, angry and nervous about her dog. He picked up

a rock and threw it and it hit her in the head. He says he didn't mean to hit

the woman, he was angry and nervous about the dog. On top of that, when the

police got there, he told them a horrific story that someone broke into our

house, shot us and he took off. So needless to say....the entire police dept

was flying to my house expecting the worse. I dont know why my son would have

made up this story or hurt this innocent woman. The police told me that he

would definitely be arrested.

The next day I informed the acute partial what he did and they immediately

recommended inpatient hospitalization....where he has been for the past few

days. They will most likely keep him there for 7-10 days while the change his

meds and try to get him to manage his anger.

Now I cry every single day worrying about his future. I know once he is

discharged from the hosp, the police will be here to arrest him. They already

told me that they are charging him with aggravated assault, simple assault and

terroristic threats. I feel so helpless and hopeless that there is anything I

can do to protect his future.

the counselor at the hospital did state they do not see a juvenial detention

center the place for him. They don't feel that he is doing these things to be

mean or malicioius. He just runs blind in his anger and can't handle it.

I really dont know what to expect from all this. He now has 2 felonies hanging

over his head at the age of 12. I can't bear the idea of him going to a

juvenille dentention center. I dont think he could handle that mentally.

Does anyone have any experience with legal problems....do the courts take his DX

of AS into consideration and make sure he getting help.....any advise would be

so much appreciated. I am worrying myself sick over all this.

thanks!

Michele in PA

July 27, 2010

Michele, I wish I could give you some good advice. I know when the school had

the police arrest a friend's son for assaulting a teacher, the case was dropped

because of his AS--but he was younger (about 9yo if I remember correctly). Your

son really sounds like he needs more than 7-10 days of help. Perhaps the court

will help him get that.

Do you have a lawyer yet? If not, you really need one. They would know more

about what the chances of various things happening might be.

I am *so* sorry you're having to go through this. I think all of us who have

children who lose control of themselves worry that something like this will

happen eventually. Hugs.

Sue in Northern Virginia

>

> My 12 yr old son was dx with AS 5 months ago after he set a fire on my

neighbors back porch. Thank God the only damage was to their siding, it could

have been devasting. I always knew my son had more issues going on than ADHD,

but until this episode it was never DX. So this is when all the issues began.

The police asked me to bring my son down to get booked, mug shot, finger prints

and all..he was charged with arson. They said it would take a few months for

court date.

>

> After this I had him put in an acute partial hospital where he went during the