Arrested at Klipsch Music Center? Now what?
We’ve all been there — yes, all of us — behaving a bit too rowdy at Klipsch Music center with a group of our friends. Be it at a Dave Matthews, Tim McGraw, Black Sabbath, or, if it tickles your fancy, Yanni (is he still around?) concert, we often find ourselves enjoying the experience to the extreme. After all, isn’t it fun to sit and listen to your favorite band (unless it’s Yanni), have a couple of drinks, relax, and sing at the top of your lungs along with them? Of course — so long as things go as planned.
The problems arise when our fun involves drinking too much (or underage), the use of illicit drugs, like marijuana, and/or a combo of both that leads to disagreements with fellow concertgoers and/or the police. Once that happens, all too often, arrests are made. Sadly, no one goes into a concert expecting to get arrested; yet, unfortunately, it happens more and more frequently as Klipsch enforces the laws more strictly, more police officers patrol the venue, and excise police work undercover.
What happened to the old days, right? After all, back then the police would just take your beer if you were underage and pour it out while laughing. That isn’t the case anymore.
Therefore, in this blog the Indianapolis Criminal Defense Attorneys of Banks & Brower take what is meant as a quick look at the most common arrests at Klipsch Music Center — or Verizon Music Center, depending on your age — or, if you are old like us, Deer Creek Music Center. This is by no means meant as an all-inclusive list, but rather a list of the most frequent criminal cases that stem from the venue.
ALCOHOL & DRUGS:
- Possessing, Using, or Furnishing a Fake ID: If you possess or use a fake ID then it is an infraction and you can be subjected to a fine and in some instances a license suspension. For those trying to profit off of kids buying fake ID’s, they are facing a Class C misdemeanor, this carries a penalty of up to 60 days jail plus a fine.
- Minor Possession, Consumption or Transportation of Alcohol: These are the most commonly charged crimes against minors for alcohol. If you are under the age of 21 it is illegal for you to drink, possess or transport alcohol(unless you have a parent/guardian in the car with you). These crimes are all Class C misdemeanors.
- Public Intoxication: This law applies to adults and minors alike.This is likely the most common alcohol charge for adults. Previously in Indiana, you violated this law if you were intoxicated in a public place. Recognizing that numerous public places serve alcohol, the legislature amended the statute to reflect a more common sense approach. Now, in addition to being intoxicated and in a public place, you must also do one of the following: (1) endanger your life; (2) endanger the life of another person;(3) breach the peace or (4) harass, annoy or alarm another person. So, in essence, in addition to being drunk in public, you must also be engaging in some other type of unruly behavior. This crime is a Class B misdemeanor.
- Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated: There are several crimes that fall under this general title. Operating While Intoxicated or with a BAC of .08 to .14 are C misdemeanors and require either driving while drunk or driving with a BAC between .08 to .14. Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated Endangering a Person or with a BAC .15 or higher is a Class A Misdemeanor. This is drunk driving in such a manner that someone is endangered or driving with a BAC greater than .15.
- Furnishing Alcohol to a Minor: If a person “recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally sell, barter, exchange, provide or furnish” alcohol to a minor, they commit a Class B Misdemeanor. Even more seriously, the act of assisting minors in obtaining/consuming alcohol can be charged as a Class D Felony if it can be proven that the assistance in question lead to the proximate cause of serious bodily injury or death to another person.
MARIJUANA:
- Possession: If you possess marijuana and the amount is less than 30 grams, the penalty is an A Misdemeanor. However, it is a D felony if it is more than 30 grams. This includes possessing, cultivating or growing marijuana.
- Dealing/Manufacturing: If you knowingly or intentionally manufacture, finance the manufacture, deliver or finance the delivery of marijuana or if you possess it with the intent of manufacturing or financing the marijuana then you can be charged with dealing in marijuana a Class A Misdemeanor, so long as the amount is less than 30 grams. The charge becomes a D Felony if the dealing was to a minor under 18 or if the amount of the marijuana was more than 30 grams but less than 10 pounds.
BATTERY:
Did you get into a fight at the concert? Below are the penalties you could face:
- Battery Without Injury: A person, who knowingly or intentionally touches another person in a rude, insolent, or angry manner, commits battery, a class B-misdemeanor.
- Battery With Injury: A person, who commits a class B-Misdemeanor above, but there is an injury to that person (i.e. pain, swelling, bruising, scratches, etc.), commits a battery, a class A-misdemeanor.
- Battery on a Medic, Firefighter, or Police Officer: If you commit a battery against any of these three groups of people, you can face a D-Felony battery charge. That charge carries a minimum term of 180 days and a maximum term of 3 years! This is often charged when people, without knowing it because they are intoxicated, are rough with personnel attempting to help them.
- Battery on Someone 14-Years Old or Younger: If you are an adult, and you batter a child under 14-years-old, you can be charged with a D-Felony.
RESISTING LAW ENFORCEMENT:
Whether you intend to or not, this is often brought about when the officers feel you are being physically difficult during the arrest or attempted to flee.
- Physical/Forcible Resist: If you forcibly resist, obstruct, or interfere with a law enforcement officer during an arrest, you can be charged with an A-misdemeanor.
- Fleeing Arrest: If you flee from law enforcement after being told to stop by visible or audible means, you can be charged with an A-misdemeanor.
In the end, have fun, enjoy yourself, relax in the music, but don’t forget what can happen if you enjoy yourself a little too much. But if you find yourself on the wrong side of the law, it’s easy to see why it’s important to have a lawyer on board to help you understand the ramifications of committing these offenses.
As former prosecutors, the Indianapolis Criminal Defense Attorney at Banks & Brower know how to protect your rights. Give us a call today if you find yourself in any of the situations described above. We will go above and beyond to make sure you are defended to the fullest extent of the law. Call us at (317) 870-0019 or email us at info@banksbrower.com.