By Lori EhdeSeven local individuals appeared in Rock County District Court Monday for their roles in selling alcohol to minors during a compliance check of area businesses.The hearing resulted in five not-guilty pleas and two guilty pleas.Twenty-one Rock County businesses were secretly tested on Dec. 26 for compliance with Minnesota’s underage drinking laws.Of those, seven businesses failed to comply and now face possible penalties for selling alcohol to someone younger than 21 years old.Appearing Monday were:oJonathon Nath at Casey's on East Main Street,oRoberta Miller at Citgo on North Highway 75,oLoretta Duffy at Luverne Lanes bowling alley,oOrvin Green at Magnolia Steak House,oJesse Johnson at Sharkee’s,oLaura Hunter at the Eagles Club andoGregory Staeffler at the Green Lantern in Hardwick.They were charged with selling to a minor, a gross misdemeanor that carries a maximum penalty of a $3,000 fine, a year in jail or both.In a plea arrangement through the County Attorney’s Office, two individuals, Green and Nath, entered guilty pleas.In return, the state certified the charges as misdemeanors, as opposed to gross misdemeanors, as was originally charged.Green and Nath were sentenced to fines and court fees of $463, with no probation or other conditions imposed.The other five individuals entered not-guilty pleas — some requesting time for legal consultation.Assistant County Attorney Terry Vajgrt is prosecuting the charges.He said the fine levied for these individuals is adequate punishment for the crime committed."These are good, hard-working people who will no-doubt find it difficult to pay these fines," Vajgrt said.He said in cases where it’s evident that someone intended to provide alcohol to minors the County Attorney’s Office would request jail time for the offender. That wasn’t the case for these individuals, however."I really do distinguish between their conduct and that of someone who goes out and buys alcohol for minors," Vajgrt said."I’m not defending their actions in that they failed to check I.D.s, but I do not think these people intended that minors have alcohol."On the night of Dec. 26, two 20-year-old men from Yankton and Dell Rapids, S.D., attempted purchases at all Rock County businesses with liquor licenses.The minors were volunteers from a regional anti-drug, alcohol and tobacco group.The non-compliant businesses may also face civil penalties as a result of the sting. Under Luverne City Code, the stores are subject to licensing penalties that can include imposition of civil fines and suspension or revocation of liquor licenses.In a 1999 compliance check, employees at both Citgo and Casey’s (this time on South Highway 75), sold to minors. The last check in Rock County was August 2002, at which time only two businesses, Ampride Pump ’N Pak and the Beaver Creek Golf Course, sold to minors.
