Legal question.

[Laffy Kat]

Don;t know if anyone can help with this: So my 22-year-old recently got a retail job at a liquor store. He worked for a couple of weeks on a part-time basis and they really liked him so they asked him to go full time. He was thrilled. On the seventh day of working full-time a kid comes in to buy some booze. The OTHER clerk takes a look at his ID and seems puzzled so hands it to my son and asks if he can use this particular document as ID. My son was also puzzled. He handed it back to the other clerk and said, he had never seen such an ID. There was no manager on duty at the time. My son goes into the back and finishes unpacking some boxes. In the meantime, the other clerk sells the booze to the kid. It was a cop. Busted. They both got fired. Fair enough.

But, since my son didn't sign out of his cash register before he got busy, the other clerk was working under my son's name. MY son got a citation and has to appear in court for selling to a minor. My son believes he should just take his lumps, that ultimately it was his negligence. I admire that but worry about the long-term consequences. Won't he have a record now? There seem to be mitigating circumstances here. Also, with the exception of a speeding ticket, he has NEVER been in any kind of trouble. He wants to got into law enforcement eventually.

Sigh.

[PoliticAverse]

1. He should probably at least consult with a local attorney who knows the specific local laws

and what laws if any your son did or didn't violate.

[Laffy Kat]

4. Agreed. I'm trying.

I haven't seen the citation and don't even know if it's a misdemeanor or something more serious. Frankly, I'm not sure he even technically broke the law. It almost sounds like entrapment to me. I do agree they both should have been disciplined by the store.

[elleng]

2. Get him a lawyer.

[Laffy Kat]

3. That's what I want to do!

I have a call into a non-profit legal center that is handling my divorce but haven't heard back yet. The problem is getting him to agree to it. He is so demoralized right now he just wants it over with. I feel bad for him. He was unemployed for such a long time and was so thrilled to have this job.

[NightWatcher]

5. Don't plead guilty or nolo, especially if he wants to get into law enforcement

The police should've ticket the clerk who actually performed the transaction. I don't see the fact that it was his register had anything to do with your son making the decision to make the sale.

Don't plead to something you (your son) didn't do. It will haunt your son later down the road.

Call an attorney.

[Laffy Kat]

6. Exactly what I think. Thanks for validation.

[NightWatcher]

7. I used to perform background checks for security clearances and this would not look good

It shows a horrible call in judgement. At least fight it and if you lose, you can mention the circumstances to your possible employers. If you plead nolo, you don't have any room to wiggle and are copping to the charge, admitting fault. Don't let a prosecutor tell you otherwise. They just want to close the case and make the money from the fines. The police/prosecutors are not your friend.

[Laffy Kat]

8. Agreed.