Law on stealing

Chauncey, a college student, worked part-time in a restaurant. After he had worked for several months.the owner of the restaurant discovered that Chauncey had stolen $2,000 from the cash register. The owner called Chauncey's parents and told them that if they did not sign a note for $2,000, he would initiate criminal proceedings against Chauncey. The parents signed and delivered the note to the owner but later refused to pay. May the owner collect on the note? Why?