My question involves criminal law for the state of: Michigan
Hello,
I'd appreciate any advice you all can give me. I'm 19 and I'm a fairly new bartender at a bar and grill. I'm officially a bar back (essentially someone who aids the bartender when it is busy), but I was asked by multiple bartenders to cover their shifts. Despite the small experience I have, I can manage the bar by myself. Getting to the point of this post, we check pretty much everyone for an I.D. Before they can even enter the establishment, there is someone at the entrance checking I.D.'s. If they are of age, they receive a wrist band. Otherwise, they do not, and this shows that they cannot buy alcoholic drinks. A sting operation was conducted at the grill just a few days ago (however, I have absolutely no clue as to why they would target us. We are a fairly popular bar and have had sting operations conducted before at the place, yet we passed them all) and I was bartending that day. The two who were sent in to test me were a African American couple who honestly looked 25 or older. The day was busy, and they did not look obviously young or even on the border of too young, so I only looked at the wrist bands they had on. This, to me, showed me that they showed their I.D.'s at the entrance and are okay to be served. All of our bartenders trust the people at the entrance to check the I.D.'s carefully. It is their only job. However, they failed, thinking that the year to check was 1995, when it is actually 1994. The I.D. had the year 1995 on it, and the people at the entrance let them through. To wrap up, they ordered drinks, I served them, and a pair of cops (I assume? I do not know what agency they were from, I was too shaken to ask) swooped in and asked for my license. I have never done anything wrong, and I never had the intent of serving alcohol to minors. I have even carded people in the past.
What kind of effect with this have on my record? Is the fine severe, and can it be altered in my case? I'm certain I'm at fault, but is there a way my punishment can be toned down due to my circumstances? It could have been any bartender, and they would have done the same as I did. I'm honestly very worried and slightly scared. Thanks again for any info/advice you all can offer.

