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well all my school has is a proxy, The proxy is shown on the schools website, thats where I got it. There are alot of kids with laptops in the school and they are using the schools wifi. But the principle said it was a misuse of technology. To be fair however, it is against the rules technically to have electronics on in school (communication devices) but the teachers could care less about using laptops for notes.

The girl who sent it was my best friend, and still is. I don't think she was a jerk at all. She thought the teacher would take it as a joke and laugh about it, but she didnt. Mainly because of VT. I see it as, while everyone else is fearing things like this, the girl didn't have it on her mind because she doesnt let things like that run her life, but if she had remembered, or realized, then she would have thought twice, but in this case she didnt think at all, and I can forgive her for that, if it was premed or anything like that then I wouldn't be so forgiving.

I love her family to death and I would feel terrible doing anything like taking them to court over it. Her mom has offered my mom to help out but we didnt give an answer, I didnt want to do that to them, but now I guess I'm having second thoughts
 
well all my school has is a proxy, The proxy is shown on the schools website, thats where I got it. There are alot of kids with laptops in the school and they are using the schools wifi. But the principle said it was a misuse of technology. To be fair however, it is against the rules technically to have electronics on in school (communication devices) but the teachers could care less about using laptops for notes.

Thanks for clarifying that point.

So they suspended you for accessing the school's wifi with your laptop, even though the proxy is displayed on their website, and it is generally accepted by all staff that students use their laptops in school, and you in specific have been using your laptop openly in class (to take notes) for several months/years with no warnings from teachers.

That stinks.

I presume also, since you haven't been arrested, that it is pretty clear to all concerned that it wasn't you who sent the message. Seems they are punishing you for having the wrong friends.
 
I have similar rules in our school (meaning no electronic devices), but most of our teachers are trying to convey a college-like atmosphere so they let us have laptops. I wouldn't dare bring mine in though because we have so many thieves in our school and so many cell phones have gotten stolen over the years. You could imagine how the school handles stolen cell phones. "You shouldn't have it with you anyways!"

When you do get a new laptop, don't bother letting anyone borrow it. Even your best friend, unless you're right there watching them and they need to use it quickly.
 
Sorry about your luck. But like it or not, your computer was used to commit a crime and therefore it is evidence. The prosecutor will simply need to have it available to show the judge/jury; their case would be incomplete without it. Unless the charges are dropped you won't get it back until the trial (and appeals...) are complete. As far as the court is concerned, evidence is evidence, whether it's a computer or a gun or a kilo of cocaine.
 
Hey Macrumors,

So I'm writing this message on my familys dell dimension pc. I can't stand it much longer. About two months ago I had a shiny new Macbook 2Ghz. Being in highschool, I brought it everyday to take notes etc. Well two months ago, A friend of mine borrowed it. What she used it for was my worst nightmare. Just two weeks after VT, she sent a prank to a teacher using fakesend.com, Allthough it wasnt intended to be, it was a death threat. Well she was caught and my laptop was taken by the police as evidence. They called me today and told me that because it was involved in a criminal investigation there would be no way of getting it back untill everything is over with, which by his estimate will be 2 years, because of the multiple people involved and there seperate trials. I now have no laptop, no mac. I spend my life savings on that thing and can't afford a new one. All the money I have to my name is what I was saving for the iPhone, which will go to a new laptop now.

Do you guys think there's anyway for me to claim the laptop? Can they just take it away from me like that? I mean I'm 16, I just bought it and now its gone. What about a charity website? something like helpmegetmymacbookback.com, Do you guys think it would be worth something like that to help raise some money to get it back. Life without my macbook sucks. All the things I'm interested in like video production and web site design have come to a halt, I need my macbook!

What do you guys think I should do?

Go talk to the prosecutors office, not some flatfoot. There are other options available to them, than actually holding your Mac. The forensic evidence on the machine may not be critical to the case, or they may be able to establish the link without having a full chain of evidence (current possession).

You can also tell her to plead guilty.
 
That sucks about the computer, but if you are that good of friends, it's up to her to make amends to you. When my friend tripped over my iBook's cord and sent it flying, we split the cost of a new PowerBook.


I doubt you have much of a chance of getting the computer back from the police...my friend's very-realistic $300 airsoft pistol was taken when his house was burglarized, when the cops found it in an abandoned car a couple of weeks later, they kept it and put it in an evidence locker, indefinitely.
 
I agree with the other posters here. Even though she's your best friend, it's still her fault that you're now without a laptop. On top of that, you're suspended (probably because of this case) and can't continue with developing your interests. I think she/her parents should pay 1/2 the cost of a new mb, and maybe you can arrange to split the rest of the bill with your parents. Normally, i would say let her parents pay for the whole thing, but since she's your best friend and you forgave her, and her family's in a hard place too i guess you can cut her some slack.
Edit: a refurb that's the same spec as your old mb costs $1000 now, so if everything works out, her family only have to pay $500 and you and your parents only have to pay $250. I'm sure you can get that in one month if you work.
 
.....Well I signed a consent form thinking it would take a week or so, not 2 years, maybe I can get a copy of that, other than that they havent given me anything... you could read about it in the ann arbor news,.....

That was stupid. Lending your laptop out to a "friend" who would be stupid enough to do something like this is your fault. Signing that consent form is your fault.

Ask the police for the laptop back after they get the fingerprints off or whatever else they need. Tell them to keep the HD, but that you want the laptop back. If that doesn't work, then just ask your friend's parents to buy you the same MacBook, or even one with worse specs if they can't afford to buy you the exact same one you own(ed). Don't feel bad doing so....not unless they really can't afford it. :eek:
 
That was stupid. Lending your laptop out to a "friend" who would be stupid enough to do something like this is your fault. Signing that consent form is your fault.

Ask the police for the laptop back after they get the fingerprints off or whatever else they need. Tell them to keep the HD, but that you want the laptop back. If that doesn't work, then just ask your friend's parents to buy you the same MacBook, or even one with worse specs if they can't afford to buy you the exact same one you own(ed). Don't feel bad doing so....not unless they really can't afford it. :eek:

In that case, iBook G3!:D
 
There is a serious problem in our society when one believes because they have had an event of misfortune that really doesn't impact their daily lives that begging strangers to pay for a luxury item is the answer.

There is a serious problem in our society when the police can just take your stuff and keep it for 2 years and you can't do a thing about it. Yes, it was involved in the commission of a crime, but really how long does it take to get what they need from it?
And I think you're comment was out of line in this particular situation. The OP isn't some spoiled rich kid (or at least he doesn't come across that way) demanding that others pay for his luxury items. He bought the laptop himself with his own money, and at age 16 it was probably no easy task to save up. It's easy to criticize him for letting his friend borrow his laptop, but I can think of several times that friends have used my laptop right here in my own house. They said they were just checking their email but they could have beend doing anything. I think this whole situation is outrageous, and the OP has learned the hard way not to put a lot of faith in his friends or the US Justice System.
 
There is a serious problem in our society when the police can just take your stuff and keep it for 2 years and you can't do a thing about it. Yes, it was involved in the commission of a crime, but really how long does it take to get what they need from it?
And I think you're comment was out of line in this particular situation. The OP isn't some spoiled rich kid (or at least he doesn't come across that way) demanding that others pay for his luxury items. He bought the laptop himself with his own money, and at age 16 it was probably no easy task to save up. It's easy to criticize him for letting his friend borrow his laptop, but I can think of several times that friends have used my laptop right here in my own house. They said they were just checking their email but they could have beend doing anything. I think this whole situation is outrageous, and the OP has learned the hard way not to put a lot of faith in his friends or the US Justice System.

Yeah so begging online for strangers to buy him a replacement is the logical solution.:rolleyes: Are you 16 too? He may not be rich, but spoiled is definitely relative. It is ridiculous for people to think that just because something has happened to their possessions that they cant learn to do with out until they can afford to replace it themselves or some other more ethical form of action besides calling for an online "charity" pity party. He still has a pc to type on, which puts him well ahead of most people. Its funny to me that the most tragic event in some of you alls lives is that you are laptopless...boo hoo. There are people going without the REAL basics like food , clothes, and shelter. As a young person he needs to learn how to cope, soon he will be an adult and crap happens you take it in stride and since he isnt rich there will be plenty of times he will be without as an adult and he needs to learn to live with it and fix it by his own volition instead of begging. Bottom line is a laptop is not a necessity. If he wants another laptop and doesnt want to pursue legal action against his friends family get out in the neighborhood and mow some lawns, walk some dogs, do some baby sitting, wash some cars...
 
wow. thats pretty cold.

"hey so i want may laptop back, so can you just throw your life away for me?"

i can't believe that the OP biggest concern is his laptop, and not the future of his friends life.

I don't think that is cold at all. There is no doubt that the friend is guilty, however unintended the result. However young, people need to accept responsibility for their actions, whether it be admitting that a joke was in poor taste, or making restitution for material damages caused to a friend. Any hardships caused the friend or her family to replace the loss are equal to that of the OP.

Don't forget the greatest victim in this tragedy is the recipient of the threat, baseless or not. How do you think they felt when they received it? Scared for themselves and family, violated perhaps, and their career will be forever tainted by this.

I also don't think it cold to question the validity of a kid begging for a free laptop. Should we hear from everyone who lost something valuable? I sympathize, but really, the best advice I could give would be to get legal advice. Ask a lawyer about recovery of the Macbook from the police, (if not damages from your friend). I'd say that is your best chance for pro bono.
 
There is no doubt that the friend is guilty, however unintended the result.

im really hope you never serve on a jury.

you've read ONE PERSONS ACCOUNT of what happened, and you immediately say "she's guilty". you ARE aware that the current law states "INNOCENT until PROVEN GUILTY"??

as i said. i think its terrible that you're all so worried about the inconvenience of no laptop, and not what happens to the girl.
 
im really hope you never serve on a jury.

you've read ONE PERSONS ACCOUNT of what happened, and you immediately say "she's guilty". you ARE aware that the current law states "INNOCENT until PROVEN GUILTY"??

as i said. i think its terrible that you're all so worried about the inconvenience of no laptop, and not what happens to the girl.

Ah--the one and only person whose account is available is the OP, who says her friend did it.

…she sent a prank to a teacher using fakesend.com, Allthough it wasnt intended to be, it was a death threat. Well she was caught and my laptop was taken by the police as evidence. …

Since I don't see a gavel anywhere, and this is a discussion board, I'll save jurist prudence for another day. :rolleyes:

I also reminded you the victim is the teacher; not the girl, or the OP.
 
wow. thats pretty cold.

"hey so i want may laptop back, so can you just throw your life away for me?"

i can't believe that the OP biggest concern is his laptop, and not the future of his friends life.
She "threw her life away" when she committed the crime. Pleading guilty would just be her accepting responsibility. I agree though...that's a generally foreign concept.
 
im really hope you never serve on a jury.

you've read ONE PERSONS ACCOUNT of what happened, and you immediately say "she's guilty". you ARE aware that the current law states "INNOCENT until PROVEN GUILTY"??

as i said. i think its terrible that you're all so worried about the inconvenience of no laptop, and not what happens to the girl.

if memory serves me, doesnt 'pengu' mean 'fart' in korean?!
 
Ah--the one and only person whose account is available is the OP, who says her friend did it.



Since I don't see a gavel anywhere, and this is a discussion board, I'll save jurist prudence for another day. :rolleyes:

I also reminded you the victim is the teacher; not the girl, or the OP.

She "threw her life away" when she committed the crime. Pleading guilty would just be her accepting responsibility. I agree though...that's a generally foreign concept.

you're both basing your thoughts on the word of one person. she clearly hasn't given the police a confession or pleaded guilty, or we wouldnt be having this discussion.

like i said, i hope you're (both of you) never on a jury.
 
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