TexasCHLforum.com

So, my CHL application is taking a bit longer than I expected and I'm starting to worry that it might be because of a legal situation I had about 7 years ago. I've tried looking for more information about it online and I've had no luck so maybe y'all can help.

When I was 14 I was hanging out with a crappy group of kids at school and pulled the fire alarm thinking it would be a funny prank ( ended up not being funny whatsoever) I wasn't the person that actually pulled it but I was the only person that got caught out of the group and i got in major trouble for it, and had to do some community service and pay a hefty fine. Obviously I used poor judgement at the time but I had no idea that it could be considered a state jail felony? I know that a false report is a serious thing but a state jail felony for a 14 year old is a bit much in my opinion, I've never been in trouble before that or since that day. I don't actually remember if I was charged with anything but I did receive a letter last year saying that my juvenile records have been placed on Restricted access so obviously there is a record there. I'm worried this will affect my CHL eligibility now because the application process is taking so long... I didn't even think about this before beginning my application because it was so long ago and I was really young.

Can anyone offer some advice on this situation? Thanks :)

it comes down to the point

Did you get arrested?
if yes, were you found guilty or not-guilty?
if yes, what was the actual charge?

If you were not arrested, there is no issue.

I had an issue as a 12 year old, did a bunch of vandalism. Got caught, paid restitution and thought this would be an issue for me.... When I called the County Sheriff, prior to my applying for CHL,. the Sheriff laughed and said "at that age, it was a family court thing, there is no record"
And there was no issue with Texas issuing my CHL.

So from my point, while at 14 you could have been arrested, you probably weren't

Leah8746 wrote:

...I know that a false report is a serious thing but a state jail felony for a 14 year old is a bit much in my opinion...

Actions have consequences. That is a lesson that can not be taught to soon, IMO.

I did some stupid things about age 15; got arrested maybe ...I guess so because taken to jail, didn't go to court, parents picked us up at the jail took us home and .... ; anyway the DPS required me to order any records of convictions/ "disposition" ... from the district clerk/county clerk

They had no record .... so I obtained a certified letter stating they found no record of a conviction ... Sent/faxed that to the DPS, and that's all they needed

Others on here have done similarly, some of us didn't have the best judgment at age 14/15; but you'll need certified letter/search records from the district/county clerks to provide to the DPS ...if records aren't available ... get a certified statement/letter from the clerks that no records were found.

If they find a record of some sort .... Get with Charles and others on here again with exactly what it says... charges .... disposition.. exact dates

First, did you list this on your application? If you didn't you may have a problem.

Second, how long has your application been in the works? If over 60 days you need to call.

Third, can you find anything from the DPS CONCEALED HANDGUN WEBSITE? Log in and check your status.

Hopefully, it is just a glitch but follow up if over 60 days.

How long has it been since you submitted your application? What do you see when you check your status online? You might give the CHL Bureau to see what they say. I think the number is 1-800-224-5744.

RPB wrote:I did some stupid things about age 15; got arrested maybe ...I guess so because taken to jail, didn't go to court, parents picked us up at the jail took us home and .... ; anyway the DPS required me to order any records of convictions/ "disposition" ... from the district clerk/county clerk

They had no record .... so I obtained a certified letter stating they found no record of a conviction ... Sent/faxed that to the DPS, and that's all they needed

Others on here have done similarly, some of us didn't have the best judgment at age 14/15; but you'll need certified letter/search records from the district/county clerks to provide to the DPS ...if records aren't available ... get a certified statement/letter from the clerks that no records were found.

If they find a record of some sort .... Get with Charles and others on here again with exactly what it says... charges .... disposition.. exact dates

I think I would of rather stayed in jail.

If there was an official finding that you "engaged in delinquent conduce of a felony grade," they you will not be eligible for 10 years. My law practice doesn't include juvenile law so I can't be of much help, but if you had to do community service and pay a fine, there was some formal finding/order.

Chas.

I wasn't arrested or finger printed, and I think it was a family court thing. I've ran a background check on myself and I fou d nothing, all I had to do was community service for this ordeal.. I cant believe something so dumb could follow me around like this. I just called to check on the status of my CHL and I was put through to voicemail so I guess I'll try again later. Thanks guys!

Suggest you go to the court and get the letter FIRST so you know exactly where you stand. BEFORE you contact DPS.

As mentioned above may be no record/no problem. Or NOT as the case may be.

Your BEST approach depends on where you actually stand legally now.

Good Luck

All I can say is that you are lucky it happened 7 years ago and that you were only 14. This happens all the time in high schools and if you are old enough they will charge you as an adult. Kids do it all the time even though there are cameras down every hallway with a fire alarm. They think its a joke! It happens at least 15 times a semester at my local high school. Hope it works out for you!

I personally wouldn't worry about it until you have to. If there's a problem with your application they will send you a letter with the reason listed.

+1 on checking your status. You can do it online instantly here: https://www.texasonline.state.tx.us/txapp/txdps/chl/

Select "returning user" and enter your info. If it's still processing, just relax. It'll let you know if something's wrong.

I had an incident where I was accused of something, spent some time talking to a LEO and had to write a statement. I listed it on my application just to be safe even though I wasn't arrested. They sent back a request for the court documents or my county record. It was no big deal, though I would think that you could possibly get in trouble for not listing it initially. That's why I suggest waiting to see if it becomes an issue, because if not there's no need to make it one, IMHO.

Yeah, one incident I wasn't fingerprinted booked etc (carrying BB guns ...)
... the other (a felony at that time, now a class C misdemeanor) I was fingerprinted, photographed, "booked". but then released ( I was a passenger in a car, but I didn't do the thing accused, another in the car did, Police discovered that fact and charges were dropped if any were filed)
So, released to parents both times

When the Harris County/District clerks kept saying "we can't find anything" I printed out from their site (which only went back so many years) and the State's site and sent them those "No records found" and asked for a letter, and sent $20.00 or something. Then they sent a letter with their Seal on it certified stamp etc ...

It's sort of like an "Affidavit of no records" which medical providers do sometimes.

That letter, along with the County clerk or District clerk (I forget which) and State printouts was acceptable to the DPS.

The clerk took almost a month to get it back to me, so if you wait for a DPS letter saying you have 20 days to provide ..... you'll have to hope the mailman walks really fast
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That said, I have a real common name, I got a DPS letter asking for records/Clerk letters from some State I'd never even been to ... ... got that cleared up too Whoever was arrested in that State with my name, did it while I was in grade school ... and the DPS saw his D.O.B. and figured it wasn't me

It sounds like your youthful indiscretion happened during the 21st century so if you were arrested, even as a juvenile, the odds are the records are on a computer somewhere and DPS will find it during your background check. In that case, the best play is telling the truth (disclosing the arrest) and start gathering the paperwork for the disposition. However, if you weren't arrested, there's no arrest to disclose and the best play is to tell the truth and not list a non-arrest.

Good luck Leah8746!

Leah8746 wrote:
... I cant believe something so dumb could follow me around like this...

One of my Mother's frequent cautions to me, my bother and my sister as we were growing up had something to do with 'your chickens will come home to roost'. This is a lesson worth sharing, eh?