Four teens arrested for underage drinking

By By William F. West / community editor
Dec. 15, 2002
A weekend party abruptly ended after the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Department received word of underage drinking.
Maj. Ward Calhoun said deputies received a tip through CrimeStoppers that the party was going on at a house west of Meridian. He said deputies returned 18 minors to their parents and charged four teen-agers as adults.
According to the sheriff's jail docket, which is public record, the following persons were booked for illegal drinking:
Wesley Morgan, 18, 1350 Ridgeview Circle.
Brian Johnson, 18, 1592 Highway 496.
Christopher Stevens, 18, 7016 Browne Hook Road.
James Coleman, 19, 11136 Highway 494.
Johnson and Stevens each also face a charge of disorderly conduct and Coleman also faces a charge of giving false information to an officer.
The four were released on bond after being arrested on Warren Road early Saturday morning, records show.
Calhoun said it's against Mississippi law for people under age 21 to possess alcohol, but he said the problem has been the lack of a state law against underage drinking. He noted that the Lauderdale County Board of Supervisors had closed the gap by passing an ordinance against underage drinking.
Calhoun said the Sheriff's Department's message to would-be underage drinkers is simple:
Calhoun said the minors will have to face the Youth Court judge and the four teens will have to face a Justice Court judge.