I was involved in an incident in on March 27, 2011 in Cambridge, Massachusetts at approximately 1:30 a.m. Note: I am a 20 year old male with no history of a criminal record.
I was in the Harvard University area with two of my friends, in a group of around eight people total. Whilst standing outside a coffee shop, Friend A noticed a broken parking meter laying on it's side and proceeded in picking it up in order to place it it's original position. Out of the sheer weight of the parking meeting, he lost grip, and it fell to the ground causing a piece to break off. He then moved the parking meter back in it's original position. I emphasize that I never once placed my hands on the parking meter, and was merely a witness to the actions of Friend A.
The group of eight people then dispersed, leaving Friend A, his Harvard student friend, Friend B, and myself walking down the street towards an apparent party. We stood in line at the party for approximately two minutes with several other individuals, when a Harvard Police officer approached everyone and asked who in the line were Harvard students and who were not. My two immediate friends and I admitted to not be students, in which we were asked to follow the officer, whilst all verbally admitted Harvard students were able to stay. We were ordered by several officers to stand against a wall and gave them our ID's in regards to "vandalizing and moving a parking meter 30 feet away from it's original position with intention to steal it." They did not want us speaking unless spoken to. We were not arrested, but after the confrontation, we were informed we committed a felony against the city and will need to appear in court.
I am deathly afraid of facing future consequences towards the career I have worked hard for, in reason of the actions of others. I feel as though I am the passenger in car pulled over for speeding, but both the driver and passenger are ticketed. I also fear being unable to defend myself in court due to it being a matter of "my word against theirs." I am not sure what the burden of proof officially entails, but I feel they have nothing against me, not even a statement or witness of my participation. However, being that I truthfully am being charged of a crime that I was a witness to, I have developed these vague questions:
Is this a felony/accessory to a crime?
Will I need a lawyer?
What is the likelihood of being charged/Do I even stand a chance?
If charged, will I have a criminal record?
What other information should I know?
Thank you,
Jake
I was in the Harvard University area with two of my friends, in a group of around eight people total. Whilst standing outside a coffee shop, Friend A noticed a broken parking meter laying on it's side and proceeded in picking it up in order to place it it's original position. Out of the sheer weight of the parking meeting, he lost grip, and it fell to the ground causing a piece to break off. He then moved the parking meter back in it's original position. I emphasize that I never once placed my hands on the parking meter, and was merely a witness to the actions of Friend A.
The group of eight people then dispersed, leaving Friend A, his Harvard student friend, Friend B, and myself walking down the street towards an apparent party. We stood in line at the party for approximately two minutes with several other individuals, when a Harvard Police officer approached everyone and asked who in the line were Harvard students and who were not. My two immediate friends and I admitted to not be students, in which we were asked to follow the officer, whilst all verbally admitted Harvard students were able to stay. We were ordered by several officers to stand against a wall and gave them our ID's in regards to "vandalizing and moving a parking meter 30 feet away from it's original position with intention to steal it." They did not want us speaking unless spoken to. We were not arrested, but after the confrontation, we were informed we committed a felony against the city and will need to appear in court.
I am deathly afraid of facing future consequences towards the career I have worked hard for, in reason of the actions of others. I feel as though I am the passenger in car pulled over for speeding, but both the driver and passenger are ticketed. I also fear being unable to defend myself in court due to it being a matter of "my word against theirs." I am not sure what the burden of proof officially entails, but I feel they have nothing against me, not even a statement or witness of my participation. However, being that I truthfully am being charged of a crime that I was a witness to, I have developed these vague questions:
Is this a felony/accessory to a crime?
Will I need a lawyer?
What is the likelihood of being charged/Do I even stand a chance?
If charged, will I have a criminal record?
What other information should I know?
Thank you,
Jake
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