This makes no sense to me at all. Are you sure he's not been in trouble before? Not pleaded guilty to something you are not aware of? They can't charge him with this if he's not plead guilty to a felony before.
I hear your pain and I wish I had words of wisdom. I know that, if it were my son, he'd have a public defender. I represented him myself on the shoplifting charge, but only because public defenders don't take municipal cases. Otherwise, I would not have. I also warned him it was a one-shot and I would never do it again. He's been told we wouldn't post bond or pay a lawyer since he was 15.
Public defenders have the same law degree as every other lawyer. They are overworked and underpaid and as a result you may not get as good a result. But there is NO ethical way a lawyer can guarantee a dismissal...no way. I'd be very leery of that too.
Whatever you decide, you have my sympathy and support.
