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Connor Buchanan, one of several young men accused of involved in a September 2012 anal alcohol ingestion incident at the University of Tennessee, visited court this week to request from a judge that he not loose his drivers license. Buchanan argued that he needs a license to get to school and work, and that he would prefer to enter an alcohol education program instead of loosing his driving privileges.

Though Buchanan asked the judge to sentence him to an alcohol education course instead of loosing his drivers license, he left court with a fine of .50. Furthermore, if he does not have any further legal problems in the next 30 days, the charges will be dropped.

It is only with more significant institutional commitments to alcohol education that we will promote more responsible drinking in the United States. Readers, what do you think of this Tennessee judge’s decision for Mr. Buchanan?

Read the entire article here.

Choose Responsibility Blog

Four students from North Carolina State have been booted from the soccer team after being arrested at a Raleigh, North Carolina sports bar. Police were called to the establishment around 1:45 a.m. October 14 to investigate an alleged altercation at the bar. Four students from N.C. State had been escorted outside. Authorities say that one of the student athletes had been in some kind of altercation with another individual.

The four soccer players were ultimately charged with resisting, delaying or obstructing arrest. Two of the students are also accused of underage drinking. The two others were each given an additional charge. One is accused of simple affray– while the other faces disorderly conduct allegations. Police claim that a fake ID was involved, but it is not clear if anyone was charged with a fake ID offense. A report from WRAL-TV indicates that the establishment was not cited.

Many students may not understand that North Carolina law prohibits fake IDS. In fact, mere possession of a fake ID can bring legal troubles for a person in North Carolina.

An employee at the bar told Technician Online, the N.C. State University paper, that no one should have been arrested. The police, and possibly the university, see it a different way apparently. The four students not only face charges for the alleged incident, but the four players have been kicked of the team. The school has also banned all N.C. State student athletes from entering the bar, regardless of the age of the student athlete.

While the school imposed sanctions against the students and added the administrative ban, the students also face charges in criminal court. The North Carolina justice system includes a wide variety of constitutional rights, including the right to due process and the right to present a defense in criminal court.

Sources:

• WRAL, “Four NC State soccer players dismissed after arrests,” Erin Summers, Oct. 18, 2012
• Technician Online, “Can athletics ban athletes from DTSB?,” Jonathan Stout, Oct. 18, 2012

Greenville DUI Attorney Blog | North Carolina Underage Drinking Lawyer | Pitt County First DUI Law Firm

A 41-year-old Army officer has been charged with serious offenses after an alleged incident in Fayetteville, North Carolina, in late August. The alleged incident occurred just four days after the officer arrived at Fort Bragg. Authorities say the officer had been denied service at a nightclub due to his alleged level of intoxication, and then matters grew more serious.

An off-duty cop was reportedly working security and says the Army officer was in a minor fender bender in the parking lot. Two more off-duty officers reportedly approached the Army officer’s sport utility vehicle, apparently to look into the accident. That encounter grew into an investigation into potential drunk driving charges. But the Fort Bragg officer is now facing serious assault charges, in addition to DWI and open bottle allegations.

The off-duty cops say that the Army man put the SUV into drive when told to shut the engine off. The off-duty police officers claim that the Army officer started pulling away from the scene. One of the people working security reportedly reached into the SUV in an attempt to stop the car. He says some kind of struggle ensued. The moving SUV then struck a small truck.

Authorities charged the Fort Bragg man with three counts of assault with a deadly weapon on a government official last week. He is also accused of having an open container of alcohol in the passenger area of a vehicle. Authorities say that they obtained a blood sample after the incident to be used as evidence of drunk driving. Toxicology tests remain pending.

The Fort Bragg officer was booked into jail, with bail set at ,000.

Source: The Fayetteville Observer, “Fort Bragg officer charged with DWI, assaulting 3 Fayetteville police officers,” Nancy McCleary, Aug. 30, 2012

Greenville DUI Attorney Blog | North Carolina Underage Drinking Lawyer | Pitt County First DUI Law Firm

A 20-year-old Greenville, North Carolina man was recently arrested at his home on a string of serious criminal charges. Law enforcement claims that an incident at a convenience store sparked an investigation that led to the man’s home.

A Greenville Police officer claims the young man attempted to buy beer at the Greenville convenience using a fake ID. Authorities claim that the store clerk refused to sell the beer, because the clerk believed that the date of birth on the license had been altered. Apparently, law enforcement believes an argument broke out over the alleged fake ID.

Police say the young man left the convenience store and a Greenville officer claims to have followed the man home. Law enforcement says that marijuana was sitting in plain sight inside the young man’s home during the arrest. Police further assert that lights and equipment that police believe are associated with an alleged marijuana grow were seen inside the residence.

Law enforcement took the young man into custody at his home, according to WNCT News. The young man was booked into jail and held on ,000 bond earlier this month on suspicion of possession of stolen property, resisting, delaying and obstructing an officer, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana charges.

Generally, North Carolina law makes the alleged possession of a fake ID a crime. Under the tough North Carolina laws aimed at controlling underage drinking, a person does not necessarily have to attempt to use a fake ID to purchase alcohol to face criminal fake ID charges.

It is important for teens and young adults to consider speaking with an experienced Pitt County criminal defense lawyer when facing any level of charge in North Carolina for a review of the facts and top protect his or her rights in court.

Source: WNCT, “Greenville man faces multiple charges after trying to use fake ID to buy beer,” May 8, 2012

Greenville DUI Attorney Blog | North Carolina Underage Drinking Lawyer | Pitt County First DUI Law Firm