US Visa entry with criminal record?

[sveney]

Hi all,

I recently went to Spain and was arrested for criminal damage along with a friend (the smashing of a glass door). We have a trial in July but are meant to be going to New York in November and have only just realised that visa's will be needed now.

Assuming that we are going to get found guilty (they wont believe a word we say with us being British and in another European country) we are not even attending the trial.

What I need to know is where the US authorities stand on criminal damage charges with regards to entry to the US? I've read about something called "moral turpitude" and I cant see how "supposedly" smashing a door would constitute the same treatment as a murderer or drug dealer with regards to visa's.

Would the case be treated differently with the conviction being in a different country to my home country(UK)?

Would it even show up on records?

Also I've read about a vise waiver program where you can "tick" boxes saying you have no convictions etc before you get off the plane. Would this actually work?

Thanks

Sveney