CRIMINAL DEFENSE · GREENSBORO · UNCG · NC A&T · GUILFORD COLLEGE · HIGH POINT UNIVERSITY
Cited for Underage Drinking,
Possession, or a Fake ID in Greensboro?
A weekend mistake near campus doesn't have to follow your son or daughter for the next ten years. Our Greensboro attorneys help college students throughout Guilford County resolve alcohol and ID charges and protect their records before it ever becomes a problem.
FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS
Don't Panic — But Don't Ignore It Either
If your son or daughter got a citation for underage possession of alcohol, was caught with a fake or borrowed ID, or got swept up in a party that was broken up by police near campus, take a breath. These are extremely common charges in college towns, and most of the time they're resolved without lasting consequences if they're handled correctly from the start.
The mistake we see most often isn't the citation itself — it's students (and sometimes parents) assuming it's "no big deal" and either ignoring it or pleading guilty without understanding what that plea actually means for things like financial aid, study abroad programs, professional licensing down the road, and federal background checks. A Class 3 misdemeanor conviction is still a criminal conviction, and it shows up on background checks unless it's resolved or expunged properly.
Greensboro is home to UNCG, NC A&T, Guilford College, and is close to High Point University — so we see these cases constantly, and we know how Guilford County courts and the DA's office handle them.
SERVING STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE TRIAD
We Help Students From Every Campus in the Area
UNC Greensboro
Greensboro, NC
Greensboro College
Greensboro, NC
NC A&T State University
Greensboro, NC
Elon University
Elon, NC
Guilford College
Greensboro, NC
High Point University
High Point, NC
TYPES OF CHARGES
Common Alcohol & ID Charges We See
These are the most common charges students face in and around Greensboro’s college campuses.
It is illegal for anyone under 21 to possess, purchase, or attempt to purchase alcohol in North Carolina. This includes simply holding a drink at a party, even if you haven't consumed it. Most first offenses are charged at the misdemeanor level.
Using a fake, altered, or someone else's ID to purchase alcohol or gain entry somewhere is a separate charge from possession itself and is taken more seriously because it involves fraud. It may also trigger a separate DMV charge if a driver's license was involved.
Hosting a party where underage drinking occurs, or providing alcohol to someone under 21, can result in charges against the provider—not just the person who consumed it. This is increasingly enforced near campus housing and off-campus rentals.
North Carolina's "Not a Drop" law makes it illegal for anyone under 21 to drive after consuming any amount of alcohol—even below the standard .08 BAC limit. A first offense can result in a one-year license revocation.
WHY THIS MATTERS BEYOND THE FINE
A "Minor" Charge Can Have Major Long-Term Effects
It's easy to think "it's just a misdemeanor" — but for a college student, a conviction at this stage of life can quietly affect things years down the road.
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University Conduct Proceedings
Many schools, including UNCG and NC A&T, run their own student conduct process separate from the criminal court. A criminal conviction can trigger or worsen university discipline, including probation or housing restrictions.
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Professional Licensing
Nursing, teaching, BAR, and other licensing boards often ask about criminal convictions, regardless of how old or severe they are. A clean resolution now avoids having to explain this for the rest of your career.
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Future Background Checks
Employers, internship programs, and grad schools run background checks. A conviction, even a minor one, can require explanation for years, especially for fields like healthcare, education, or law.
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Study Abroad & Travel
Some countries may deny entry or require disclosure of criminal records, including misdemeanors, when applying for a visa. Even if you’re applying for citizenship at a consulate, they may ask this. A pending or resolved conviction can complicate study abroad plans.
POSSIBLY OUTCOMES
What A Resolution Can Look Like
Every case is different; don’t rely on what a friend told you because they most likely didn’t paint the full picture. We pursue different kinds of outcomes for students facing these charges all the time.
Dismissal
In some cases—particularly where there's an issue with how the citation was issued, or where the evidence is weak—a charge can be dismissed outright. A dismissed charge generally has the cleanest path to expungement later.
Deferred Prosecution / Conditional Discharge
For first-time, non-violent misdemeanor offenders—which describes most students in this situation—North Carolina offers programs that allow the charge to be dismissed after completing certain conditions (such as a short education course, community service, or a clean period of time). This keeps a conviction off the record entirely if completed.
Prayer for Judgment Continued (PJC)
A PJC means the court finds you responsible but doesn't enter a formal conviction. While a PJC can still show up in some contexts (notably for driving-related charges and insurance), it's often a better outcome than a straight conviction for many alcohol charges.
Reduced Plea
If a full dismissal or diversion isn't available, we negotiate for the most favorable plea possible—minimizing fines, avoiding license consequences where unrelated, and laying the groundwork for future expungement eligibility once the waiting period passes.
Expungement (When Eligible)
Many first-time misdemeanor convictions become eligible for expungement after a waiting period under North Carolina's expanded expungement laws. We flag this from day one so the case is set up for a clean record down the road.
WHY CHOOSE OUR FIRM
A Firm That Understands
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Board Certified in Criminal Law
Brennan Aberle and Julie Connolly are among fewer than 4% of NC attorneys certified as Criminal Law Specialists by the NC State Bar, for a charge this important to a young person's future, that matters.
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Julie Connolly and paralegal Jeremy Cruz both speak fluent Spanish — helpful for families who want to discuss their student's case in their first language.
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We Know Guilford County
Diversion and deferred prosecution programs vary by county and even by the prosecutor. Julie Connolly has 22+ years of experience and knows these DA’s. We know what’s available and how to request it in Greensboro.
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Clear Communication
We understand that often it's a parent calling, worried, trying to understand what happens next. We explain things in plain language and keep families informed throughout.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions From Students & Parents
Will this show up on a background check forever?
Not necessarily. If the case is resolved through dismissal or a diversion program, there may be nothing to expunge because no conviction was entered; however, there have been instances in which dismissals and “deferred prosecution” are keyed into the system but don’t get expunged. In this case, you would need one of our expungement attorneys to assist you. If a conviction occurs, many first-time misdemeanor convictions in North Carolina become eligible for expungement after a waiting period under the state's expanded expungement laws. The important thing is to handle the case in a way that preserves this option; pleading guilty without understanding the long-term picture can sometimes make it harder to do so.
Does my student have to go to court themselves?
In most misdemeanor cases, an attorney can handle many court appearances on the student's behalf, which is especially helpful for out-of-town students or those balancing class schedules. We'll let you know specifically which appearances require the student to be present.
Can this affect financial aid or scholarships?
It depends on the specific scholarship or financial aid program; some have conduct clauses tied to criminal convictions. Because of this, we try to resolve these cases in ways that avoid a formal conviction whenever possible (dismissal, deferred prosecution, or PJC), which generally avoids triggering these clauses. If your student has a specific scholarship with conduct requirements, let us know so we can factor that into the strategy.
What's the difference between a citation and being arrested?
Many underage possession cases result in a citation (similar to a ticket) rather than a full arrest, especially for simple possession without other complicating factors. However, fake ID charges, charges involving fraud (like using someone else's license), or situations where alcohol led to other issues (fights, property damage) are more likely to involve an actual arrest. Either way, the underlying charge is still a criminal matter that needs to be addressed.
My student already pleaded guilty without a lawyer — is it too late?
It depends on where the case is in the process. If judgment hasn't been entered yet, there may still be options. If a conviction has already been entered, we shift focus to expungement eligibility once the applicable waiting period has passed. Call us — even after a guilty plea, there's often still something we can do to help going forward.
WHERE WE PRACTICE
Serving Students Throughout Greensboro, NC
Don't Let a College Mistake
Follow You for Years.
Call now for a free, confidential consultation. We'll walk you through your options in plain language.