I realize this thread hasn't been active in 9 years but I would like to throw something on here.
At VMI, there is something called a form 24.
If you commit any kind of honor offense, you have 48 hours from when you realize you committed the offense to form 24 yourself. You turn yourself in, receive some kind of penalty, but are not prosecuted by the honor court for said honor offense.
The fact of the matter is, your son committed a blatant honor offense. Not only that, he tried to get away with it. Made a self-conscious decision to not turn himself in and face the penalty.
Yes, it sucks that you got stuck with that bill. But it's due to your son's lack of honor, and decision to try to cheat the system.
Just my two cents.