What is the name of your state? North Carolina
OK, so I'm not sure if I am posting this in the right area, if not I apologize. But here is my story/question anyways (any advice would be GREATLY appreciated):
I am 21 years old and I live near Greensboro, NC. I was at a friends party a few weekends back at an apartment complex in Greensboro. I am of age, and I was drinking... and I wouldn't say I was drunk, but quite under the influence, and I felt like swimming. So I went up to my friend who lived there and said "what time does the pool close?" since it was about 10:30 at night, and he says "9 o'clock, but since you are my guest here you're allowed to go in. If you have permission from a resident, it's ok." Now once again, I was not sober and had no reason to argue with his response, at the time it made sense. So I got in the pool with 2 other people, one being the friend who lived there. I was not loud at all, I jumped in and lost my glasses immediately and spent the next 20 minutes searching for my glasses... so I was not causing any disturbence. Everyone got out and went back to the party except for myself and a girl who never got in the pool but stood on the side to guide me to my glasses since I am almost legally blind without them. When I finally reached them and came back up for air, a police officer's flash light was in my face. He told me to get out, and I did not hesitate to get out and I cooperated with everything he told me to do and I gave no attitude at all. He gave me a citation for "first degree trespassing" and the police officer told me it is a misdemeanor. However, when I was in the back of the cop car, his computer screen said on it "suspects entered secured area and refused to leave after a warning was advised." I was not at ANY point given a warning while I was in that pool, I simply came out of the water and he was there and I got out when I saw him. So what advice could anyone give me... do you think I can get the charges dropped since I have a perfectly clean record... do you think possibly the judge will take into account that I was told by a resident that it was OK in the rules if a resident told me I could go in? It was bad judgement on my part to even listen, I know... but I am about to talk to an Air Force recruiter about getting signed up, and I would hate for this to stop me in any way. If I do get convicted, what do you think my punishment will be and how will it effect my record? Thanks for any advice you can give me!
Paul Fitzgerald
OK, so I'm not sure if I am posting this in the right area, if not I apologize. But here is my story/question anyways (any advice would be GREATLY appreciated):
I am 21 years old and I live near Greensboro, NC. I was at a friends party a few weekends back at an apartment complex in Greensboro. I am of age, and I was drinking... and I wouldn't say I was drunk, but quite under the influence, and I felt like swimming. So I went up to my friend who lived there and said "what time does the pool close?" since it was about 10:30 at night, and he says "9 o'clock, but since you are my guest here you're allowed to go in. If you have permission from a resident, it's ok." Now once again, I was not sober and had no reason to argue with his response, at the time it made sense. So I got in the pool with 2 other people, one being the friend who lived there. I was not loud at all, I jumped in and lost my glasses immediately and spent the next 20 minutes searching for my glasses... so I was not causing any disturbence. Everyone got out and went back to the party except for myself and a girl who never got in the pool but stood on the side to guide me to my glasses since I am almost legally blind without them. When I finally reached them and came back up for air, a police officer's flash light was in my face. He told me to get out, and I did not hesitate to get out and I cooperated with everything he told me to do and I gave no attitude at all. He gave me a citation for "first degree trespassing" and the police officer told me it is a misdemeanor. However, when I was in the back of the cop car, his computer screen said on it "suspects entered secured area and refused to leave after a warning was advised." I was not at ANY point given a warning while I was in that pool, I simply came out of the water and he was there and I got out when I saw him. So what advice could anyone give me... do you think I can get the charges dropped since I have a perfectly clean record... do you think possibly the judge will take into account that I was told by a resident that it was OK in the rules if a resident told me I could go in? It was bad judgement on my part to even listen, I know... but I am about to talk to an Air Force recruiter about getting signed up, and I would hate for this to stop me in any way. If I do get convicted, what do you think my punishment will be and how will it effect my record? Thanks for any advice you can give me!
Paul Fitzgerald