MIP – By Alcohol or Marijuana – A Lawyer Explains these Denver Charges
When a teen or minor possesses or consumes alcohol or marijuana in Denver County or any other part of Colorado, they will face criminal charges of Illegal Possession or Consumption of Ethyl Alcohol or Marijuana by an Underage Person or Illegal Possession of Marijuana Paraphernalia by an Underage Person, C.R.S. 18-13-122. This is commonly called Minor in Possession. A conviction of either of these offenses can lead to serious consequences for your juvenile. Don’t wait to contact an attorney at the O’Malley Law Office if your child is facing criminal charges involving marijuana or alcohol possession or consumption. Call us today, so we can intervene before the damage grows.
Minor in Possession of Alcohol – MIP – in Adams County, Colorado
When a person under twenty-one years of age possesses or consumes ethyl alcohol in Adams County or any other part of Colorado, they commit illegal possession or consumption of ethyl alcohol by an underage person, also known as MIP. Illegal possession or consumption of ethyl alcohol by an underage person is a strict liability offense. This means that a District Attorney is not required to prove certain elements of the crime to convict you. For example, if a 19-year-old is caught drinking with his friends who are older, an Adams County DA may not have to prove the 19-year-old didn’t know he couldn’t consume alcohol under the age of 21. Read about the sentence for Minor in Possession charges.
Minor in Possession of Marijuana or Marijuana Paraphernalia in Douglas County
In Douglas County and across Colorado, a person under twenty-one years of age who possesses one ounce or less of marijuana or who consumes marijuana commits illegal possession or consumption of marijuana by an underage person. Possessing marijuana underage is also a strict liability offense. Anyone under twenty-one years of age who possesses marijuana paraphernalia and knows or reasonably should know that the drug paraphernalia could be used in circumstances in violation of Colorado law commits illegal possession or marijuana paraphernalia by an underage person. This is also a strict liability offense.
Jefferson County Affirmative Defense to Minor in Possession of Alcohol:
In Jefferson County and across Colorado, it is an affirmative defense to an underage person possessing or consuming alcohol under these circumstances:
1. They were on private property and consumed or possessed alcohol with the consent of their parent or legal guardian;
2. They were a student and they tasted but didn’t imbibe alcohol under the supervision of an adult instructor and it was during a culinary arts, food service or restaurant management degree program;
3. They consumed alcohol due to the ingestion of a confectionery, a substance not designed for human ingestion, a substance meant for medicinal or hygienic purposes, or the ingestion of a beverage containing alcohol.
4. They consumed the alcohol during a religious service.
MIP Arapahoe County Lawyer Explains Exceptions to MIP Criminal Charges
A teen under the age of 21 will not face criminal charges in Arapahoe County or any other area in Colorado for possessing or consuming alcohol or marijuana if:
1. They called 911 and reported another underage person needed medical assistance because of alcohol or marijuana consumption;
2. They called 911 and gave their name to the 911 operator;
3. They were the first to call 911;
4. They remained on the scene with the underage person needing medical assistance until assistance arrived.
Charged with MIP in Denver? Call the MIP Criminal Lawyers at the O’Malley Law Office
If your child has been charged or accused of possessing or consuming alcohol or marijuana in Denver, call the best criminal defense attorneys at the O’Malley Law Office right away. If convicted of MIP in Colorado, your child may not be able to receive student loans, and they may face jail or prison time, fines, as well as treatment or community service. Our criminal defense lawyers know how valuable a young person’s life is, which is why we fight so hard to protect their future. They have a lot of life still ahead of them, which includes valuable school and job opportunities that can be negatively affected by a conviction of MIP. Protect your child’s future and call our juvenile lawyers today to set up a free initial consultation.
If your child is facing criminal charges of MIP in Colorado, be smart, exercise your child’s right to remain silent and call the best criminal defense lawyers at the O’Malley Law Office. Our criminal defense attorneys care about your family and want to see your child stay out of prison and avoid a criminal record. Call us 24/7 at 303-731-0719 today. Together, we can protect your child’s future.
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