Will Your Texas Teen Be Arrested This Halloween?

Will Your Texas Teen Be Arrested This Halloween?

For parents of younger children, Halloween is often one of the most fun holidays. Maybe you’ll get to see your child dressed up in a Halloween parade. Or get to see their amazed expressions as decorations go up around the neighborhood.

It’s not quite the same with older adolescents and teens. While younger kids tend to be all about the candy, bigger ones tend to see the night as an opportunity to let loose and cause some mischief with their friends.

Unfortunately, this mischief could result in an arrest for your teenager depending on their “trick” of choice. The following charges are often given to Texas teens who play pranks or otherwise get a bit too wild on Halloween. If you know what these crimes are and when your teenager could be at risk of facing penalties, it can be easier to prepare and make sure they know the consequences.

Texas Minor in Possession Charges

The biggest difference between kids and teenagers on Halloween is often the presence of alcohol. Kids go out in search for candy; teenagers go out in search of a party.

Unfortunately, if your teenager is caught drinking at a Halloween party, they could face class C misdemeanor charges. The penalties for a Minor in Possession of Alcohol (MIP) conviction include:

  • Up to $500 in fines
  • Between 8-12 hours of community service
  • Loss of driver’s license for up to 30 days

These penalties are increased if your teen has previous convictions on their record. Even if this is your child’s first offense, it’s important to fight back against charges to prevent more serious penalties for a second or third conviction.

Texas Offenses against Property and Criminal Mischief

Halloween pranks often involve property: houses, cars, bikes, and so on. Toilet paper around a tree most likely won’t cause serious damage, but throwing eggs may break glass or result in costly repairs.

If your teenager knowingly breaks or damages property that ends up costing the owners money, they may face charges for criminal mischief.

The severity of the penalties and charges will depend on the cost of the damages:

  • If the cost of damages is less than $100, offenses against property charges will be a Class C misdemeanor.
  • If the cost of damages is between $100 and $750, the charges will be increased to a Class B misdemeanor.
  • Damages that cost between $750 and $2,500 will result in Class A misdemeanor charges.

If your teenager causes more than $2,500 in damages, they might face felony charges. This could have a serious impact on their ability to get into college or get a high-paying job.

Texas Offenses against Property and Criminal Mischief

Texas Trespassing

The spooky house across the street or the vacant lot might look like a perfect setting for Halloween adventures, but make sure your teenager knows when they are crossing onto private property. Trespassing is a crime in Texas, but it is not always easy to determine when a crime is being committed.

Texas defines trespassing as an event when a person “enters or remains on or in the property of another, including residential land, agricultural land, a recreational vehicle park, a building, or an aircraft or other vehicle, without effective consent.”

In order for trespassing to occur, there has to be written or oral communication that tells the defendant the property is private. These signs aren’t always obvious, especially in the dark. Tell your teenager to look out for signs, painted marks on trees, or fencing that could signal that property is off-limits.

Trespassing charges will differ depending on the type of property (residential, agricultural, etc.) that is involved.

Disorderly Conduct in Texas

Even if alcohol is not present during a Halloween get-together, teens can rile each other up in the spirit of the holiday. The line between harmless rowdiness and disorderly conduct is quite thin in Texas. State law makes any of the following actions a misdemeanor offense:

  • Using “abusive, indecent, profane, or vulgar language in a public place” or making offensive gestures with the intention of breaching the peace
  • Creating “a noxious and unreasonable odor in a public place” through the use of chemicals (not the “natural” way, of course)
  • Creating unreasonable noises in public places or “near a private residence that [the defendant] has no right to occupy”
  • Fighting or discharging firearms in a public place

Is Your Texas Teen Legally a Minor? Maybe Not

Texas processes charges against minors and adults differently.

If someone is under the age of 17, most likely they will be put through the juvenile criminal system. Those in this age range are only charged as adults for serious violent crimes.

However, if your teenager is 17, 18, or 19, they will be charged like a “normal” adult through the regular criminal justice system. Obviously, this is much worse – and more serious.

Fort Worth Juvenile Crimes Defense Lawyer

Depending on how your child is charged, make sure you reach out to a defense lawyer who has experience handling both the specific crime and with the court system that will be involved – criminal justice or juvenile justice.

Remember: talk to your teen about when pranks or parties can turn into criminal offenses. Even if something seems like devilish fun, it’s not worth crossing the line and negatively impacting their future.

 

 

About the Author:

Brandon Fulgham has an in-depth understanding of both Texas law and Texans themselves. Before practicing law here, he received his undergraduate degree from TCU, and his law degree from South Texas College of Law in Houston. After graduation, he worked in District Attorneys’ offices as a prosecutor, building cases designed to put people behind bars. Now, he uses that knowledge to protect the rights of people in and around Fort Worth, making sure they receive the strongest possible defense when they find themselves on the wrong side of the law. He has been recognized for his work by The National Trial Lawyers, Fort Worth Magazine, and others.