Charge: Public Intoxication; Class B Misdemeanor
Hi,
I recently attended a football game at the University of Georgia, where I am a student. The vast majority of students in attendance have been tailgating all day and I'd venture to guess more than half bring alcohol in. After stopping for a coke and mixing myself a drink from the pint in my pocket, I went to go find my seat. There are GBI officers stationed at all student section entrances, and a couple stopped me as I was entering my section. He told me my drink looked watered down and asked if he could search me. As alway, I declined the proposition. They immediately grabbed one arm each and proceeded to escort me out. While on the elevator on the way down, one patted my back pockets and pulled out my pint. Against my better judgement, I decided to ask them their badge numbers, if for nothing else than to let them know I'm aware of my rights, and possibly prevent them from being as over-assertive with another student. The hadn't cuffed me so i was able to reach into my pocket and type the first one's onto my phone. The other immediately cut in as the first finished, not allowing me any time to take down the information. By this time they had shoved me out of the gates and told me to get the hell out. I asked the second one for his badge number again. He said he had already given it to me. My blood was hot, but I was still reasonable calm when I told him it was too damn fast. He immediately cuffed me. I had no idea why. Since then, I have researched and discovered that profanity is cause for public intoxication arrest. They charged me but read no Miranda -- apparently unnecessary for class B misdemeanor. I carried on a polite conversation with the two local officers who were watching me until transport arrived. After seven hours in jail -- with some unnecessary lip from me and some unnecessary force resulting in my head being slammed against a wall by the sargent-- I had a bondsman bail me out.
I am wondering:
A) What is the likely consequence of conviction. I know max fine is 2K and 6 months, but I am wondering what the likely sentence will be, given the story I just laid out.
B) What are my chances of defending myself in court? I really can't afford a lawyer in my situation
C) Alcohol is prohibited in the stadium, but I'm pretty sure it isn't illegal. In any case, they threw away my pint on the way out, and I wasn't arrested until I was outside of the stadium (still on campus, however). I was never breathalyzed. Assuming the two GBI officers even show up in court to give their side, is there sufficient evidence for conviction?
D) What should I do?
Thanks in advance,
- Another Victim of Their Ego
Hi,
I recently attended a football game at the University of Georgia, where I am a student. The vast majority of students in attendance have been tailgating all day and I'd venture to guess more than half bring alcohol in. After stopping for a coke and mixing myself a drink from the pint in my pocket, I went to go find my seat. There are GBI officers stationed at all student section entrances, and a couple stopped me as I was entering my section. He told me my drink looked watered down and asked if he could search me. As alway, I declined the proposition. They immediately grabbed one arm each and proceeded to escort me out. While on the elevator on the way down, one patted my back pockets and pulled out my pint. Against my better judgement, I decided to ask them their badge numbers, if for nothing else than to let them know I'm aware of my rights, and possibly prevent them from being as over-assertive with another student. The hadn't cuffed me so i was able to reach into my pocket and type the first one's onto my phone. The other immediately cut in as the first finished, not allowing me any time to take down the information. By this time they had shoved me out of the gates and told me to get the hell out. I asked the second one for his badge number again. He said he had already given it to me. My blood was hot, but I was still reasonable calm when I told him it was too damn fast. He immediately cuffed me. I had no idea why. Since then, I have researched and discovered that profanity is cause for public intoxication arrest. They charged me but read no Miranda -- apparently unnecessary for class B misdemeanor. I carried on a polite conversation with the two local officers who were watching me until transport arrived. After seven hours in jail -- with some unnecessary lip from me and some unnecessary force resulting in my head being slammed against a wall by the sargent-- I had a bondsman bail me out.
I am wondering:
A) What is the likely consequence of conviction. I know max fine is 2K and 6 months, but I am wondering what the likely sentence will be, given the story I just laid out.
B) What are my chances of defending myself in court? I really can't afford a lawyer in my situation
C) Alcohol is prohibited in the stadium, but I'm pretty sure it isn't illegal. In any case, they threw away my pint on the way out, and I wasn't arrested until I was outside of the stadium (still on campus, however). I was never breathalyzed. Assuming the two GBI officers even show up in court to give their side, is there sufficient evidence for conviction?
D) What should I do?
Thanks in advance,
- Another Victim of Their Ego
