It’s the weekend and your under 21 year old child is having a few friends over to hang out. It’s not uncommon at all for the friends and their friends to “crash” the get together and have booze on them. A little loud music, a car backfire in your quiet neighborhood, some loud laughter and a neighbor calls the cops, who show up from the complaint. You would be the one getting the ticket since you have minors in your home in possession of booze. The first thing you should do is contact a criminal defense attorney in Ohio.
If you knowingly or not allow a party at your house where alcohol is consumed by underage guests, you could be sued if any harm, injury or death results from the consumption of the alcohol. Even if you didn’t supply the booze.
The only real “crime” you may have committed here is going out to dinner and coming home earlier than you had told your underage child. You will be charged with an unintended crime of allowing them to drink in your home. You didn’t buy if for them or even serve it to them; you simply had the home in where you were not there. Unfortunately, if you they are caught, you can be arrested or cited with a social host charge. If the cops think the booze came from your bar, other charges will be added: “endangering the welfare of a child” and “unlawfully dealing with a child in the first degree”.
This type of situation goes on everywhere no matter your social or economic standing. As a parent, being convicted can mean you lose your parental rights if you are in the middle of a divorce situation or custody battle. You could lose your license if your work requires one (doctor, dentist, teacher, etc) and if you could face public humiliation.
The Bottom Line: You need to speak with a good criminal defense attorney in Ohio if you come home tonight and there are kids underage drinking and police in the driveway. Teens can be charged as well as you as social hosts and the repercussions could be devastating; loss of scholarship, job, and a permanent record. Put my number in your mobile. I can always be reached. 513-260-2099
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