We have discussed many issues related to underage alcohol offenses in North Carolina. A person may face alcohol related offenses, but if the person is 16 or older, the charges are filed in adult court in all cases. North Carolina is one of two states that consider a person an adult at the age of 16 for the purposes of criminal charges.
Teens may face underage alcohol offenses, which can have long-term collateral consequences. But, a teen may face serious charges, including felony-level offenses related to alcohol—and the charges automatically go to adult court.
A 17-year-old Fayetteville, North Carolina teen is facing felony charges, driving while impaired, underage drinking and driving charges, and other offenses, after authorities responded to a car accident in Fayetteville Monday night.
Police say that they found a passenger in the car who was unresponsive, but no person was in the driver’s seat of the vehicle.
Investigators believe that a 2004 Toyota had left the road clipping a roadside sign before running into a tree on the passenger side of the Toyota. Law enforcement believes that the teen accused of felony hit and run and felony injury by motor vehicle charges fled the scene after crashing the car.
However, a witness reportedly says that the driver remained in the area for some time and apparently only left to get his father. Police arrested the teen at his home. Details about the investigation remain sketchy in the media.
The 18-year-old man found unresponsive in the passenger seat was taken to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center with critical injuries. Authorities say that the passenger was placed on life support at the hospital.
The young man accused of driving at the time of the wreck was booked into the Cumberland County Detention Center with bond set at ,000. He is accused of DWI, driving after drinking under 21, felony hit and run, felony injury by motor vehicle, reckless driving and driving without a license.
Source: WTVD-TV, “Teen facing charges in Fayetteville accident,” June 25, 2013
