Purchasing Alcohol for a Minor in Michigan

[pat2899]

Endangering the welafre of a child........( the one you gave the booze to) Get an attorney and maybe he can get you a reduction to a "mickey mouse" violation like Disorderly Conduct or a "conditionl discharge" whatever , you need competent counsel - tell him about how some day you might like to run for US Senator and you don't want a "mug shot" of you on TV.....if that kid died or worse had brain damage, the family would probably sue you successfully for a couple of mil.......you (the responcible adult) started the ball rolling by giving booze to a minor......its very easy to get harpooned for life financially....they file a lein against you for life and the meter runs all the time.

[souperdave]

Point of curiosity: What exactly is gonna be your defensible point(s)? Something like "Sure! I bought the kids alcohol, but I din't know what they were gonna do with it." Or; "I know they were kids but they shoulda known when to say when." Or; "Hey! What they did with it was their business."

Methinks any and/or all of those kind of "defenses" are not going to bode very well with whatever sort of judicial official ends up hearing this case. Pretty much regardless of the near-family relationship you claim to have with them.

Besides, their attitude toward you may be altered a bit relative to the size of the medical care expenditure they are soon to face once the bills come in the mail.

One more thing, who did what with anything still originates from you being the supplier, holding, solely I might add, the big bag of culpability.

[afrobacon]

I do apologize if I'm being irrational for holding on to the hope that a defense will magically orchestrate itself. With what I have learned here and my own research I understand that my only real hope is a plea bargain. With that I thank everyone for how helpful you have been in helping me get a grasp on the legal consequences of my actions.

I do have one more question since I do not have much experience with lawyers. Should I go with the lawyer who agrees with this board that I have a slim chance of improving the verdict? Or should I go with the other more ambitious lawyer who believes he can prevent me from being fingerprinted; which by the way he made it sound, will greatly reduce the charge that is to go on my record.

My instinct is to go with the cheaper of the two; since as I understand, not much can be done in my defense and there's no justifying paying a couple thousand more for the same outcome.

[LawResearcherMissy]

Go with the one you feel most comfortable with, the one your gut says you can absolutely trust.

Personally, I'm wary of people who promise me the sun, moon, and stars when everyone else says that I can only have the stars.

[Security Consultant]

You actually have an attorney telling you that if you are charged they can keep you from getting fingerprinted? Really?

[LawResearcherMissy]

You actually have an attorney telling you that if you are charged they can keep you from getting fingerprinted? Really?

I'd be turning tail and running so far and so fast from that one, because that statement pinged my BS-o-meter so hard, the poor thing broke.

[afrobacon]

Maybe what he meant was he can prevent me from getting charged in the first place. My memory of the conversation is a little foggy as I was running on absolutely no sleep at the time. Either way I agree with LawResearcherMissy about being wary of the what he says he can do. My dilemma is if I go with the other guy I'll be paying nearly twice as much more; money that could otherwise be used to pay for the fines.

Would it be in my interest too look outside of town for someone else? Or is it truly best to hire someone more familiar with the court I'll be dealing with?

Thanks again.

[LawResearcherMissy]

Maybe what he meant was he can prevent me from getting charged in the first place.

Then you should REALLY run, because that is not going to happen. Someone landed in the hospital with alcohol poisoning as a result of your actions. You most definitely are going to be charged. I wouldn't go with that guy even if he were offering to represent me for free.

Or is it truly best to hire someone more familiar with the court I'll be dealing with?

That would be more to your advantage.