Berkeley Heights High School Teacher Pleads Guilty to Permitting Underage Drinking
A 27-year-old man has been sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to allowing underage drinking at his home. According to a news report in The Star Ledger, the former teacher at Governor Livingston High School in Berkeley Heights was arrested in 2010 and sentenced on December 16. Officials say the man made his residence available for underage drinking. His seven-year sentence included four counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
Making alcohol available to minors in your home may seem like a harmless and minor offense, but it has serious consequences. According to New Jersey Statute 2C:33-17, "Anyone who purposely or knowingly offers or serves or makes available an alcoholic beverage to a person under the legal age for consuming alcoholic beverages or entices or encourages that person to drink an alcoholic beverage is a disorderly person."
This disorderly persons offense can result up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine, as well as a permanent criminal charge on the offender’s record. Additionally, these penalties can increase when multiple juveniles are involved or when the welfare of the juvenile is put in danger.
Anyone facing these serious allegations would be well advised to discuss their case with a skilled defense attorney. Failure to take these types of charges seriously can result in life-changing penalties such as jail time and probation.
The experienced criminal defense attorneys in Princeton at Lependorf & Silverstein have a long history of handling child endangerment cases. If you or a loved one has been charged with endangering the welfare of a minor, please call our offices at (609) 240-0040 right away for a no-cost consultation.
