What is the name of your state? Illinois
Please help me. I was recently charged with possession of alcohol and I am only 20 years old. This situation is rather unique. Firstly, the police officer never witnessed me possessing alcohol. I was walking down a street with 3 friends completely normal after only 1 beer (My bac was .0208). The cop pulled over as we were walking, and recognized one of my friends (My friend's brother had been arrested earlier in the night for underage drinking). The cop then asked if we had been drinking, and said he could smell the alcohol (he was 15+ feet away and no one had drank heavily). We admitted. We were sent to the local police station, hand cuffed and breathalized. Then we were transported in a van to a different police station 25 minutes away, where we were searched (none of us had anything on us). The bail fee was $115, and we spent almost 8 hours in jail. Our rights were never read to us! Now I have a court date coming up and have no idea what to do. An attorney will cost $350-1200, which in my opinion is rather steep. How big of a deal is a misdemeanor? Is it worth hiring an attorney? What happens if I simply plead "not guilty"?
P.S. This is my first offense; my record is completely clean.What is the name of your state?
Please help me. I was recently charged with possession of alcohol and I am only 20 years old. This situation is rather unique. Firstly, the police officer never witnessed me possessing alcohol. I was walking down a street with 3 friends completely normal after only 1 beer (My bac was .0208). The cop pulled over as we were walking, and recognized one of my friends (My friend's brother had been arrested earlier in the night for underage drinking). The cop then asked if we had been drinking, and said he could smell the alcohol (he was 15+ feet away and no one had drank heavily). We admitted. We were sent to the local police station, hand cuffed and breathalized. Then we were transported in a van to a different police station 25 minutes away, where we were searched (none of us had anything on us). The bail fee was $115, and we spent almost 8 hours in jail. Our rights were never read to us! Now I have a court date coming up and have no idea what to do. An attorney will cost $350-1200, which in my opinion is rather steep. How big of a deal is a misdemeanor? Is it worth hiring an attorney? What happens if I simply plead "not guilty"?
P.S. This is my first offense; my record is completely clean.What is the name of your state?