Is it worth fighting a possesion of alcohol charge, along with simple trespassing ?

Question

Is it worth fighting it in court? Cops took pictures and were were in an abandoned house drinking and playing beerpong,whats the best way to go?

Answer 1

Typically (in my experience) fighting a charge, leads the judge to impose additional costs because of the waste of the court's time shoudl you be found guilty.

This is the reasoning behind the whole plea bargaining concept, in which criminals plead guilty to a lesser charge, getting a lower fine or lesser sentence.

EDIT-The judge (depending upon jurisdcition) can add "court costs" should you fight the charges and have the entire case heard in their court room. In my city the judge can assess up to $1000 of costs per day.

Answer 2

I'm not entirely sure what your asking but: When you go to your plea hearing, definitely plead "not guilty". They will usually then offer you a plea bargain (ex: if you plead guilty, all you have to do is alcohol classes). Pleading "not guilty" doesn't mean you're "fighting it", you're just exercising your constitutional right. It is highly unlikely a charge like that will ever go to trial. If you are actually asking, "should I let the case go to trial?", I would probably say no. Accept the plea bargain, it'll be nothing.

If it's just a ticket, I would just pay it. There is the option of the ticketing officer not showing up to the trial or whatever and the ticket gets thrown out (that happened to my boyfriend once) but that probably wouldn't happen and you'd just waste everyone's time (including your own).

Answer 3

Do you have evidence that lends reasonable doubt as to your guilt?  Any reasonable defense to the charge?

If not, probably not worth fighting, IMHO.