US Visa with referral order

[exe12345]

3 years ago, my son, then aged 16 and a couple of his mates got drunk and were invvolved in a scuffle with another group of youths. Unfortunately one of them ended up with a fractured jaw and my son and his mates were jointly convicted of GBH without intent and given a 12 month referral order. He had never been in trouble before and has not been in trouble since. This is now spent. We would like to go on a famly holiday to Florida, but he will not be able to travel under the Waiver Programme, so will have to get a Visa. As the USA does not recognise the Rehabilitation Of Offenders Act, has anyone been down this route and what is the likelihood of him being granted a visa? It was stupid one-off, and completely out of character, but unfortunately the USA seem pretty strict on granting Visas.
Any advice or previous experience would be appreciated.
Thanks

[jno]

If I were him, which I am not, I would apply under the visa waiver programme and accidentally forget about my tumultuous record. The US authorities won't have any record of it and won't know if you don't tell them. (Though if he starts sweating and stammering while in the immigration queue, this might raise a few eyebrows.)

[munchie63]

that'd be the q he's likely to be sweating and waiting in for an hour trying not to look nervous

[dzug2]

GBH without intent is probably not moral turpitude - hence ESTA/VWP is legitimate