How bad is a misdemeanor on the record?

[omgyou8myrice]

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Seems relatively straight-forward, but this is sort of a different circumstance.

In my college town, they've enacted a new law where hosting a "social event" in which underagers are drinking is punishable with a misdemeanor and up to a year in jail / $1000 fine (so far the worst someone has gotten is no jail / $400 fine).

The reason I ask about this is because my roommates lately have been having friends over, and one of them happens to be a 17 year old girl. She comes over, gets absolutely hammered, and annoys me relentlessly. I usually just wind up leaving. Unfortunately, I just found out that ALL tenants of the house/apartment the event is being hosted at are held responsible and will be given the misdemeanor, regardless of being there or not.

SO, if they were to get busted one night while I was away and I received one, is that something I could explain away at an interview, or am I going to have to start putting my foot down about her coming over? My roommates have already tried to appease me by saying they would cover my ticket, but I don't think that's going to do it for me.

 

[ILikeDrugs]

How hot is she?

 

[premedicine]

*

 

[omgyou8myrice]

How hot is she?

Not hot enough to justify a $10 ticket, let alone a $400+ one

 

[supermang]

How hot is she?

doesnt matter, shes not 18 😉

 

[NickNaylor]

It's worse than the scores of applicants that apply each year with clean records.

 

[mitchlucker]

I would put my foot down because she's 17. What are 21 year olds doing hanging out with 17 year olds? I think that's creepier than a 30 year old and an 18 year old. Put your foot down just based on that.

Plus, you won't get a misdemeanor if you're not there. Unless you're the legal owner, a lawyer could get you off. The fine sucks though, too.

I would say find somewhere else if your roommates or you absolutely must drink with underage kids (who shouldn't be drinking in the first place)

 

[TriagePreMed]

I would put my foot down because she's 17. What are 21 year olds doing hanging out with 17 year olds? I think that's creepier than a 30 year old and an 18 year old. Put your foot down just based on that.

Only because society has taught you that 18 is some magical point when you become an adult. 17 to 21 is barely a 4 year difference. No big deal. Things should be evaluated in perspective.

OP - If she's ugly, you must definitely put a stop to this. Otherwise, I'd suggest you do what you gotta do quickly and move on. I'M KIDDING!!

In all seriousness, once there's some legal issues going down, it's bull****. You need to tell them to shape up or piss off. No way you should deal with the consequences of stuff like that. I remember in college we had to get a roommate in our house during the middle of the year because the other guy left suddenly (his father died). The new guy ended up being some weirdo snorting coke in the house. I put my foot down and spoke to the rest of the group and had that guy gone within 72 hours.

 

[gettheleadout]

Put your foot down. Do it soon and be assertive. They have no right to put you at risk regardless of what they say.

 

[ILikeDrugs]

Any crime related to minors that was pinned on you puts you in the "do not want" zone. When it comes to crimes involving children, you will be hanged, figuratively speaking. Our society is very protective of its kids and ostracizes those who mess with them. Sometimes the official charge does not state a specific age, but instead states an age such as "15-17". The number 15 will stand out in the mind of the person reading the charge and will most likely fixate on that.

 

[Malice]

Ok look. If you want her to go away just act really weird and creep her out until she never comes back. Some samples:

"Hey baby, how you doin'?"

"Out of curiosity, do you know the statutory rape laws in this state?"

"When do you turn 18?"

"You are so beautiful that I want to be reincarnated as your child so that I can breastfeed by you until I'm 20."

"I put the STD in STUD, all I need is U..."

 

[Ursa]

My friends were in the same situation. Just get a good lawyer if anything happens. If you truly weren't doing anything wrong, you will be fine.

 

[hopki099]

Assuming that you're in the Twin Cities, that law is barely enforced at all (<10 times over the course of last year). I think it's geared more towards frats and houses who have huge crazy parties with dozens of drunk underaged people outside.

I wouldn't be concerned about a single person getting everyone in your house the social host penalty. If by some off-chance it does happen, your situation can easily get it explained away to adcoms.

 

[NickNaylor]

Any crime related to minors that was pinned on you puts you in the "do not want" zone. When it comes to crimes involving children, you will be hanged, figuratively speaking. Our society is very protective of its kids and ostracizes those who mess with them. Sometimes the official charge does not state a specific age, but instead states an age such as "15-17". The number 15 will stand out in the mind of the person reading the charge and will most likely fixate on that.

This could also apply to the OP depending on where things go.

 

[cpants]

You can ask the roommates to knock it off, but it probably won't work. You gotta get out of there if there are minors drinking in house. Just stay at a friend's if that activity is going on. Probably nothing will come of the behavior in terms of legal action, but you need an ironclad alibi if it does. They may try to charge everyone in the house, but you will get off if you weren't there.

 

[LizzyM]

Isn't underage drinking defined as "under 21"? So, 17 or 20, it is still "underage". That said, I have found adcom at one school to be merciful to applicants who get caught in these anti-alcohol prosecutions. I recall one that involved a student who was in Europe when her roommates had a party and she was written up because her name was on the housing contract! Of course, the adcom did not penalize her and there was no reason to believe she wasn't as good as any of the applicants with clean records.

That said, put your foot down over underage drinking....

That said, take some consolation in the report that you are unlikely to be prosecuted if the situation is a small party in a private residence... unless the girl leaves the party drunk and does something stupid and then the cops come back at you in dram shop style.

 

[Suncrusher]

god i love insanity wolf

too bad all the best ones got taken down