not really a drug charge but.....

State: Florida



Heres the story, i went into a gas station to buy a pack of ciggarettes and noticed the guy behind the counter didnt check my id. So i attempted to purchase a beer. Sucessfully i walked out with the beer, no I.D. check. While i was getting in my car an undercover officer approached me and asked for my id and age etc....After finding out i wasent 21 he wrote me up a notice to appear in court. I did so and this being my first offense i was offerd pre-trial diversion. (I also saw the gas station attendant at court paying a $75 fine for selling the beer?) I accepted and attempted the process. I later found out i was responsible to pay for over $600 in fees to avoid going to court. I wasent employed and i couldnt possibly pay it so i dropped out of the program. Almost 6-7 months went by and i finally just now recieved a second notice to appear in the mail. Im thinking about pleading not-guilty to see what kind of deal i can get......

What would be the rammifications of this and would it be the best way to go? If this is a bad idea should i plead no-contest or just guilty?

Well they offered you an easy way out and you did not get a job or borrow the money and attempt to take the easy road... Shame on you! Typically I would say worst case scenario you get probation, fines, community server, however, since you are wasteing their time the judge might get upset and make the setence a bit harsher. No matter what you almost ALWAYS have to pay a fine so that 600$ is probably going to look like chump change soon.