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Juvenile Trespassing Charges: Defense Strategies for Property-Related Offenses
Parents, if your child just got a trespassing citation or was arrested, please take a deep breath. We know this feels terrifying. You’re worried about college, jobs, their whole future. At the Law Office of Katie Walsh, we’ve helped thousands of Orange County families through this exact situation for over 20 years. We handle only juvenile cases, and trespassing is one of the most common and most fixable charges we see every single week.
Here’s the good news: Orange County Juvenile Court still believes in second chances for good kids who make impulsive teenage mistakes. When parents connect with an Orange County juvenile defense lawyer early, the overwhelming majority of these cases end with no juvenile record at all.
What Actually Counts as Criminal Trespassing?
Not every time your kid cuts through a lot, explores a construction site, or hangs out where they shouldn’t is a real crime. The most common trespassing charges we defend as an Orange County juvenile trespassing attorney include:
- Refusing to leave private property (like a closed parking structure or business) after being told to go
- Going onto land with proper “No Trespassing” signs or fencing
- Very rarely, actually “occupying” property (courts have ruled many times that hanging out for an hour or two does NOT count as occupation)
If there were no signs, the gate was open, your child genuinely believed entry was allowed, or they were just passing through quickly, we can often get the case dismissed because those facts undermine the required elements of Penal Code § 602.
What Really Happens in Orange County Juvenile Court Right Now
Orange County judges and prosecutors understand these cases are almost always about curiosity, peer pressure, TikTok/urban exploration trends, or just bad judgment, not real criminal behavior.
In our experience with first-time, no-damage trespass cases, the vast majority are resolved through:
- Informal diversion programs (community service, counseling, or a short class) leading to full dismissal
- Deferred Entry of Judgment: stay out of trouble 6-12 months and the case completely disappears
- Informal probation with no finding of guilt
Actual wardship (a real juvenile record) is extremely rare in straightforward trespass cases when an experienced attorney is involved early.
How an Orange County Juvenile Lawyer Gets Trespassing Charges Dismissed
We win these cases the same ways, over and over:
- Missing, faded, or improperly placed signs = dismissal
- Your child reasonably believed they were allowed = no criminal intent
- Body-cam shows they were already leaving or were never clearly told to leave
- Police stopped them without good reason = evidence thrown out
A skilled juvenile trespassing defense lawyer knows how to use each of these to push for dismissal.
Talk to an Orange County Juvenile Defense Attorney
Even a “minor” trespass case can affect college applications, scholarships, certain jobs, or military service if it’s not handled correctly. The earlier you get an experienced Orange County juvenile defense lawyer involved (ideally before the first court date), the better the outcome, usually by a lot.
We offer completely free consultations 7 days a week, nights and weekends included. We’ll review the police report and body-cam footage at no charge and tell you exactly what we can do for your child. Call us right now at (714) 351-0178 or contact us online.
We’ve got your family. Your kid deserves a second chance, and we’re really good at making that happen.
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