Need Input on misdemeanor

[air cowboy]

Does a misdemeanor ruin a future aviation career? Airline career? I just finished my four yr degree, and am resuming my flight training (working on commercial) with hopes of the airlines, but charges are pending now and any advice would be appreciated. If you want more details read on.



My last semester at college I was at my friends college apartment (three doors over from mine) for a normal college party. He locked his keys in his room and was trying to get in with a credit card when I told him I could pick it. (I got a loc pick out of a hunting magazine when I was 16 and had it at college for a demonstration speech) I went over to my place and got it and picked the lock. When people saw I could pick locks they wanted to play a prank. My friend wanted to play a prank on his neighbors, and since i'm always up for a good practical joke we went over (we were going to rearrange the furniture or something). When we got inside the one girl said "let's makeout" So I was upstairs when the girl who lived there got home, heard noises and called the cops. To make matters worse, my friend who knew the girls whose house it was had went back to his house because a girl he liked had stayed back. When the cops were hauling us off, he came out and told the cops that we were at his party but he didn't know where we got to. He told the girl whose house it was that we were his friends and it must have been an accident. I talked to her later, and she said she told the cops she didn't want charges pressed, but they subpeonaed her and must have convinced her to testify that we didn't have permission. About the other 2 that were in the house, the one said she didn't remember anything, and the other said she was just following me. So since I'm a guy and the pick was mine, the cops are only charging me. My lawyer waived the prelim hearing and said he will work things out. But I want to be prepared if he asks me if I want to take the misdemeanor. The are charging me with 2 counts of felony criminal trespassing, possesion of the pick misdemeanor, and defiant trespassing summary offense. I guess that is another question, will the summary offense affect an airline career?



ps. I really enjoyed the thread on college degrees with avbug, yip and others... that was great!!!!!!

 

[FN FAL]

Are you expecting to plea to misdemeanor charges in exchange for them dropping the felony counts? Your primary concern needs to be getting out of the felony charges. You don't want those...those are like herpes, they never go away. Unless you have a dream team, I'd think walking away without at least some form of misdemeanor conviction is inevitable.

 

[air cowboy]

actually, I kinda do have a "dream team" I loaned the money and got the best lawyer in the county, he is rated one of the best defense lawyers in the country. Are you inferring that the misdemeanor convictions "go away"?

 

[FN FAL]

actually, I kinda do have a "dream team" I loaned the money and got the best lawyer in the county, he is rated one of the best defense lawyers in the country. Are you inferring that the misdemeanor convictions "go away"?

Nope...sorry, but the stigma of a felony conviction goes way beyond records going away.

Sorry to hear about your college prank gone bad, you'd think the prosecuters would have better things to do, especially when the resident of the dwelling you were in declined to press charges.

If you have a dream team, they are going to be the best answer for all your legal questions.

I guess my initial response detracts away from your question of how misdemeanor charges will affect your career...I was just noting that you still have felony charges pending.

From the stories I have read on this board, there have been guys hired at airlines with DUI's and other things in their records, since you only have 250 hours and have a long path ahead of you towards getting in the airlines...I would say that you would still have a chance with a misdemeanor conviction. Everybody makes mistakes...especially when they are young.

 

[OhDannyBoy]

As usual, FN FAL has the goods.

You CAN be hired by airlines with misdemeanors on your record. It will depend on how you explain yourself and the airline. You may consider getting some help down the road on how best to do this, but by all means don't try to play it down and definately don't try to hide it. You've completed a 4 year degree, and didn't shoot anyone, so odds are in your favor. Even if it gets expunged or sealed, it will show up on your background check. As Fn Fal said, you have plenty of time to build a good solid track record in aviation before this ever happens, and yes most of us do some things we'd rather not explain later on. Some of us just get caught.

As for the felonies, do everything in your power to keep them off your record. I'm not sure on this, but I think that felonies may preclude you from employment due to airport security, whether or not the airline wishes to hire you or not. When you fill out applications you will have to state whether or not you have ANY felonies, and some of the application language implies that this is an immediate disqualification.

When you are ready to apply for any new jobs in aviation, make sure your ducks are in a row. Do your own background checks and have all of your documantation ready. When you get interviews it will show you are prepared and willing to face the truth/consequences.

Good Luck