Man pleads guilty to Albert Lea’s new social-host measure
Published 8:42 am Wednesday, March 11, 2009
The first man arrested for allegedly violating Albert Lea’s new social host ordinance pleaded guilty in Freeborn County District Court Monday to his charge.
A pre-sentence investigation will now be conducted on the man, Scott Alan Possehl, before he is sentenced for the crime in court.
The city’s social host ordinance, which was passed by the Albert Lea City Council in December, holds Albert Lea adults criminally responsible who knowingly allow three or more people under 21 to drink alcohol in their residences. People hosting such an event can be held criminally responsible even if they did not supply the alcohol.
Albert Lea police arrested Possehl, 20, in January after they assisted a Freeborn County probation agent with a probation check at 2149 Bridge Ave.
While conducting the check, officers came across a gathering of underage people — hosted by Possehl — who were discovered consuming alcoholic beverages, according to reports.
Officers transported Possehl, three other 18-year-old men and juvenile girl to the Freeborn County Adult Detention Center, reports stated. Additional charges included probation violation, illegal consumption, possession of drug paraphernalia and obstructing the legal process.
The social host violation is a misdemeanor, which carries a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.
To date, officers have cited two people for violating the ordinance, according to police.