underage possession of alchol
A 20 year old male was arrested and taken to jail. Charges: underage possession and drunken in public. First offense other than a speeding ticket. Male is a college student, works and is self-supporting. Parents live out of town and do not help in any way. Does he need a lawyer in court (he cannot afford one)and what type of punishment is usually imposed in this type of situation? Thank you so much for your help. I'm just trying to help this young man out and keep him on the right track.
Re: underage possession of alchol
Although unlawful possession of alcohol by a minor is categorized as a Class I misdemeanor, it
does not appear to be a jailable offense as the
penalty specified in the statute(S4.1-305) is a $500 fine or 50 hours of community service.
However, I believe that you may still be eligible
for a court-appointed attorney and you should
request that one be appointed.
The DIP (drunk in public)charge, as far as I know,
no longer qualifies as a charge for which counsel must be appointed.