FURNISHING ALCOHOL TO MINORS
When thousands of adults flock to Morgantown, West Virginia on a warm Saturday in the fall to catch their alma mater battle hard in an afternoon or evening football game, it is pretty easy to locate a tailgating crew with alcohol available for consumption. Indeed, whether from Morgantown, or just visiting for the big game, tailgating in the Blue Lot, Gold Lot or on Law School hill is a favorite Mountaineer pastime.
Regardless of the event that brings you to Morgantown, the rules remain the same: You must be 21 to purchase or consume alcohol. If you are caught with alcohol and are under the legal age of 21 years of age, you will be charged with Underage Consumption – Minor in Possession of Alcohol. If convicted for the offense, you will face jail time, fines and possible suspension of your student aid. Moreover, if you are the person caught furnishing the alcohol to the minor, you will also face jail time, fines or both.
With the many students joining in the pregame tailgating festivities, one may feel pressured to provide alcohol to an underage college student so the underage student can enjoy the free flowing alcohol. Although this is common, giving alcohol to an underage person is prohibited and against the law.
Furnishing alcohol to a minor is a misdemeanor offense punishable by 30 days to six months in jail and up to a $500 fine. If convicted of the offense, the charge will remain on your record unless you later petition the court for an expungement.
There are several defenses to the charge of Furnishing Alcohol to minors and we are experienced in looking at the several factors surrounding the arrest to protect your record. Do not make the mistake of thinking you can simply pay the fine or ignore the summons in hopes that the charge will disappear. Once you pay the fine and mail in your guilty plea, the charge will show on your record. If you ignore the charge, a warrant will be issued for your arrest.
When you are first notified of the criminal charge, do not hesitate: Contact our law firm immediately for aggressive and experienced defense.