Melanie

My son is 17 years old and was arrested at school with marijuana. He is a great student who made a VERY poor decision. Since his arrest I have randomly preformed my own at home drug tests, which he has passed them all. I unfortunately could not afford a lawyer and his court appointed lawyer stated he had good chances at being placed on Diversion. Needless to say after we completed ALL the pre-trial diversion paperwork, our “so called” attorney continously showed up to court forgetting paperwork, late (each and every time) and at my son’s last court appearance stated he didn’t qualify for diversion. My son is an honor roll student, never been in trouble, prior to this incident, and had letters of recomdation from not only family friends but school professionals as well. I am confused as to why he is now on deffered adjudification, and was denied diversion. Is there anything we can do at this point to fight this decision? If not, what is the difference between defered adjudification and just paying the fine for his offense and being done with this HORRIBLE sistuation altogether. I am in no way condoning my sons poor choices, but on everything we researched he met all the qualifications for diversion. Please help! he wants to go to A&M and pursue a career in Petroleum Engineering and I don’t want a decision he made as a “stupid child” to affect his Adult choices.