My Little Sister Is Being Summoned To Court For Assault W/ Dangerous Weapon, I Don’t Know What To Do.

Location: Massachusetts
I, 24F don’t live with my 16F sister, but we are very close. She’s always been a bit of a wild child, but she’s never done anything like this. About an hour ago I got a random text, and she sent me a photo for a court summons, alleging she assaulted a girl around her age (which we know from previous encounters with this girl, her and her friends beat up my little sister about 3-4 years ago,) with a dangerous weapon, being pepper spray.

On the document it is a delinquency claim, at the bottom it reads quote “1 count, (redacting code unless needed,) Description: A&B w/ dangerous weapon c265 s. 15a(b); On 9/12/26, by means of a dangerous weapon, a Pepper Spray, assaulted and beat (redacted,) in violation of G.L. C265 s. 15a(b).” It also says the next event is for 10/13/26, for arrangement.

Now, I haven’t talked to my little sister for about few weeks now, unfortunately we had a domestic issue happen not too long ago too. This isn’t part of the story, and that is a whole separate legal issue I am trying to figure out, because it involves my sister as well, being assaulted by one of my parents. My other parent about a year ago also attacked me. They are drug addicts. That issue as far as I know isn’t related to this story, currently Im just concerned aboutmy sister’s legal issues at the moment. She has always been rebellious, free-spirited, and always willing to stand up for herself, but her energy CAN sometimes be misguided and she can get feisty. Ever since she was bullied in middle school, she’s had to be taken out of school and homeschooled because she was being jumped and beat almost on a daily basis. This girl that is claiming my sister assaulted her, has also assaulted my sister in the past. This is not to say it is excusable if this recent alledged assault happened, just adding context to everything.

My sister walked me through what happened that day, and sent an audio recording. Unfortunately, I am not fully convinced she didn’t do it, even though that’s what she claims. She had been out of the house, between going to her best friend’s house, going to the store, going to the shopping mall, then back to hang out with another friend/coworker (who I don’t know) at a playground nearby her house, all throughout that day, taking buses and driving in a friend’s car to get around. She sent 3 photos that showed location and had time stamps, and has photos with said best friend, who I know very well too, I don’t doubt she was with her. What I’m concerned about is the amount of traveling in between, and I have no context for what time the assault could’ve happened. My sister then goes to say that she got a text and call from one of our parents when the mail was opened and the summons was read. The way my sister described it, everyone was confused, parents, her and my other younger sister too (20F.) The tone in her voice says differently, wouldn’t you be more concerned if you could potentially have a felony charge against you? I don’t even know if she actually owns pepper spray.

I’m unsure what to do, I have no money to afford a lawyer, and I doubt my parents can either. The whole family is still, in technical terms, homeless, only living with my great-uncle to get by, but they’re not permanently staying. I got myself out, my boyfriend and I were on the street/couch surfing until 9 months ago. I’ve been trying very hard to get back to a stable point, but things are not as lucky for my sisters and my parents. I want to be there for my little sis, but I don’t know the semantics of everything, if she can get a lawyer if she can’t afford one, if I can represent instead of my parents, etc. I just want to see some opinions. I also know too, that honestly right now I can’t fully trust her word for anything because of how she can be, and I absolutely don’t trust my parents to do the right thing in this situation. I don’t want her getting a felony charge.