Underage beer sales cost clerks $750 fines
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Six clerks entered guilty pleas before Judge Larry Ross in General Sessions Court Tuesday to charges of prohibited beer sales to a minor. The clerks were each given 11-month, 29-day probationary sentences and fined $750 plus court costs for each count. The fine is stiffer than the traditional $500 fine for the offense.
“It’s been awhile since we conducted one of these operations,” said District Attorney General Dale Potter of the increased fines. “The cost of business has gone up.”
The clerks were cited after a 19-year-old undercover agent bought beer, and in the case of one Van Buren County store, liquor, without showing any ID. State law forbids the sale of alcohol to any person under 21. The operation was conducted last month at several stores in Warren County and Van Buren County.
The stores where alcohol was purchased by the agent reportedly included Stop and Go Market on Old Morrison Road, Hillis BP on Old Smithville Highway, New Smithville Highway Shell, North Chancery Shell, Lapitas on North Spring, Westwood Amoco, Tienda Mexicana, Country Club Market, and A&A Liquors and Skips, both of Van Buren County.
The stores will face disciplinary action through their various alcohol boards at a later date. The penalties may range from fines to license suspension or revocation.
Fines and probationary sentences handed down against the clerks Tuesday included Noel Resendez, Lonna Sue Hale, Henry Williams, Johnny Saffle and Teodora Resendez Jr. Another clerk, Jennifer Simmons, was fined a total of $1,500 for two sales to the operative. The remaining clerks have separate court dates.