Accused Underage Drinkers Face Possible New Charges
INDIO -A commissioner will consider a motion that seeks to challenge a decision to approve a slew of agreements made in more than 70 misdemeanor underage drinking cases involving Coachella Music and Arts Festival attendees on Friday.
Around 75 defendants were set to appear in court this morning for the hearing, but the judge decided to push back the proceedings until Friday morning.
The District Attorney’s Office has filed a motion to overturn the agreements that defense attorneys and Superior Court Commissioner Hugh Bobys reached on July 13.
Bobys agreed to dismiss charges against the defendants in six months if they paid $500 in fines and stayed out of trouble, according to court documents.
The Van Nuys-based commissioner made the decision, which is called an “informal diversion,” over the objection of prosecutors Karen Salas and Daniel Lengeman, according to the motion.
Prosecutors have argued that the law only allows for a diversion program with the consent of the prosecution.
The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control conducted a sting operation during the Coachella Music and Arts Festival that targeted underage drinkers in possession of alcohol or fake identification, according to the motion.
The April 17-19 festival, which drew people from all over the world to see Paul McCartney and dozens of other performers, required attendees to present a valid ID to receive a wrist band that allowed them to purchase alcohol.
The prosecutors objected to the plea agreement partly because “large amounts of money and resources had been expended on the ABC operation,” according to the motion.
Supervising Deputy Public Defender William Beldon said previously that these types of deals are common in other counties.
Defense attorney John Patrick Dolan, who is representing one of the defendants, said that his client has paid the $500 fine and wants the original agreement upheld.
“We performed our end of the agreement and we expect that the judge is going to provide my client with the benefit of the bargain,” Dolan said.
