Alcohol & Drugs: MIP, MIC, Intoxication Mip

[1776]

My brother (27 yrs. old) was up visiting me at Umass Amherst, he myself (20 yrs. old) my girlfriend (19 yrs. old, did not get charged w/ anything) and best friend (20 yrs. old) went to a local pizza shop to get dinner. Afterwards my brother needed to get himself and a few of his college friends (who were driving up from Westfield) to spend the weekend with him. After buying two 30 packs and an 18 pack of beer, he put one thirty pack into the trunk of his car. Where he could not fit anymore because he works carpentry and all of his tools are in the trunk. After he puts the 18 beers in the front by my feet (in the passenger seat) and the other 30 pack in the back where my friend put on the floor between his legs. A police officer comes to the car as we are about to back up, asks for his ID and how old he is, then asks all of us our age. Looks through the windows sees beer, immediately assumes the beer is ours, after my brother told his side of the story. Explaining that we had nothing to do with those beers and that he had to get the beers for his friends who were not going to have time to stop for their own beer that night. The cop tells us that myself, and my friend are being charged with Minor in Possesion of Alcohol, because the beer was at our feet it was in our possession. There was no room for the beer in the car other than at our feet unless we put it on our laps. My brother is said to be charged with providing alcohol to minors. Although the officer said this will probably be dropped in court, and that my brother was upmost curteous and respectful (of which he said he's going to put in the report) what do we all have to look foward to as far as charges and what happens if there are consequences. What approaches should we take? Thank you.

 

[mafioso]

Get a lawyer ASAP. You would be okay their case sounds weak. You have a good chance of dismissing the charges. If you don't fight the charges and just pay, it could mess your clean background check. Employers don't like anyone with any form of a record.

 

[1776]

MIP/Buying for minors

Thanks for the response/advice. Two more questions, what does my brother have ahead of him? With being charged for buying alcohol for minors, being in his own car, thats registered in his name. Also could we all 3 have a lawyer represent us, or would the lawyer most likely charge us seperately, and what to you seems like a reasonable lawyer fee? Thank you so much for your help.

 

[mafioso]

He would face a fine, class, or even community service given it is his first offense. Yes you can have one lawyer since you all story is same and stacks against the cops............but the rate might depend on if the cases can be consolidated to one or if they are separate cases. For a single case, it can run from $1000 to $3000 on average. You can easily find a lawyer for less than $2000. If it is the same lawyer for you all, he could give you breaks if the cases are filled separately.......Just negotiate.

 

[1776]

So he does not have to worry about losing his license, or anything that severe?

 

[mafioso]

I can't predict how the Judge will rule..........What I am saying is in most cases, people with clean records don't get hit hard. This can vary from one county court in one state to the other. I am just giving you an idea of common practice. It could be a more severe penalty in some states or counties……….But that is general rare. If your story about the evens is accurate, I feel you have a good chance of beating the charges…….