Date: 10-01-2012

Case Style: State of Oklahoma v. Christopher Chance Willis

Case Number: CF-2012-48

Judge: Gary E. Miller

Court: District Court, Canadian County, Oklahoma

Plaintiff's Attorney: Austin T. Murrey

Defendant's Attorney: Kevin D. Etherington

Description: The State of Oklahoma charged Christopher Chance Willis with sale of alcoholic beverage to a minor in violation of 37 O.S. 537 and sale of liquor without a license in violation of 37 O.S. 538.

Title 37 O.S. 527 provides:

A. No person shall:

1. Knowingly sell, deliver, or furnish alcoholic beverages to any person under twenty-one (21) years of age;

2. Sell, deliver or knowingly furnish alcoholic beverages to an intoxicated person or to any person who has been adjudged insane or mentally deficient;

3. Open a retail container or consume alcoholic beverages on the premises of a retail package store;

4. Import into this state, except as provided for in the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, any alcoholic beverages; provided, that nothing herein shall prohibit the importation or possession for personal use of not more than one (1) liter of alcoholic beverages upon which the Oklahoma excise tax is delinquent;

5. Receive, possess, or use any alcoholic beverage in violation of the provisions of the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Control Act;

6. Transport into, within, or through this state more than one (1) liter of alcoholic beverages upon which the Oklahoma excise tax has not been paid unless the person accompanying or in charge of the vehicle transporting same shall possess a true copy of a bill of lading, invoice, manifest or other document particularly identifying the alcoholic beverages being transported and showing the name and address of the consignor and consignee; provided, this prohibition shall not apply to the first one hundred eighty (180) liters of alcoholic beverages classified as household goods by military personnel, age twenty-one (21) or older when entering Oklahoma from temporary active assignment outside the contiguous United States;

7. Knowingly transport in any vehicle upon a public highway, street or alley any alcoholic beverage except in the original container which shall not have been opened and the seal upon which shall not have been broken and from which the original cap or cork shall not have been removed, unless the opened container be in the rear trunk or rear compartment, which shall include the spare tire compartment in a vehicle commonly known as a station wagon and panel truck, or any outside compartment which is not accessible to the driver or any other person in the vehicle while it is in motion;

8. Drink intoxicating liquor in public except on the premises of a licensee of the Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement Commission who is authorized to sell or serve alcoholic beverages by the individual drink or be intoxicated in a public place. This provision shall be cumulative and in addition to existing law;

9. Forcibly resist lawful arrest, or by physical contact interfere with an investigation of any infringement of the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Control Act or with any lawful search or seizure being made by an inspector or agent of the ABLE Commission, when such person knows or should know that such acts are being performed by a state, county, or municipal officer, inspector or agent of the ABLE Commission;

10. Manufacture, duplicate, counterfeit or in any way imitate any bottle club membership card required to be issued by the ABLE Commission without the permission of the Commission;

11. Consume or possess alcoholic beverages on the licensed premises of a bottle club unless such person possesses a valid membership card for that club issued by the club; or

12. Knowingly possess any bottle club membership card required to be issued by the ABLE Commission, which has been manufactured, counterfeited, imitated or in any way duplicated without the permission of the Commission.

B. No licensee of the ABLE Commission shall:

1. Receive, possess, or sell any alcoholic beverage except as authorized by the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Control Act and by the license or permit which the licensee holds;

2. Employ any person under the age of twenty-one (21) in the selling or handling of alcoholic beverages. Provided, that a mixed beverage, beer and wine, caterer, special event or bottle club licensee may employ servers who are at least eighteen (18) years of age, except persons under twenty-one (21) years of age may not serve in designated bar or lounge areas, and a mixed beverage, beer and wine, caterer, special event or bottle club licensee may employ or hire musical bands who have musicians who are under twenty-one (21) years of age if each such musician is either accompanied by a parent or legal guardian or has on their person, to be made available for inspection upon demand by any ABLE Commission officer or law enforcement officer, a written, notarized affidavit from the parent or legal guardian giving the underage musician permission to perform in designated bar or lounge areas;

3. Give any alcoholic beverage as a prize, premium or consideration for any lottery, game of chance or skill or any type of competition;

4. Advertise or offer "happy hours" or any other means or inducements to stimulate the consumption of alcoholic beverages including:

a. deliver more than two drinks to one person at one time,

b. sell or offer to sell to any person or group of persons any drinks at a price less than the price regularly charged for such drinks during the same calendar week, except at private functions not open to the public,

c. sell or offer to sell to any person an unlimited number of drinks during any set period of time for a fixed price, except at private functions not open to the public,

d. sell or offer to sell drinks to any person or group of persons on any one day at prices less than those charged the general public on that day, except at private functions not open to the public,

e. increase the volume of alcoholic beverages contained in a drink without increasing proportionately the price regularly charged for such drink during the same calendar week, or

f. encourage or permit, on the licensed premises, any game or contest which involves drinking or the awarding of drinks as prizes.

Provided that the provisions of this paragraph shall not prohibit the advertising or offering of food or entertainment in licensed establishments;

5. Permit or allow any patron or person to exit the licensed premises with an open container of any alcoholic beverage. Provided, that this prohibition shall not be applicable to closed original containers of alcoholic beverages which are carried from the licensed premises of a bottle club by a patron, closed original wine containers removed from the premises of restaurants, hotels, and motels, or to closed original containers of alcoholic beverages transported to and from the place of business of a licensed caterer by the caterer or an employee of the caterer; or

6. Serve or sell alcoholic beverages with an expired license issued by the ABLE Commission.

C. No package store licensee shall:

1. Purchase or receive any alcoholic beverage other than from a person holding a brewer, wholesaler or Class B wholesaler license issued pursuant to the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Control Act;

2. Suffer or permit any retail container to be opened, or any alcoholic beverage to be consumed, on the licensed premises;

3. Sell, or keep package store premises open for the purpose of selling, any alcoholic beverages at any hour other than between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday; provided, that no such sales shall be made, or package store premises be allowed to remain open for the purpose of making such sales on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Day. Package store licensees shall be permitted to sell, or keep package store premises open for the purpose of selling, alcoholic beverages on the day of any General, Primary, Runoff Primary or Special Election whether on a national, state, county or city election, provided that the election day does not occur on any day on which such sales are otherwise prohibited by law;

4. Operate a retail package store unless such store shall be located in a city or town having a population in excess of two hundred (200) according to the latest Federal Decennial Census;

5. Sell any alcoholic beverage on credit; provided that acceptance by a retail liquor store of a cash or debit card, or a nationally recognized credit card, in lieu of actual cash payment does not constitute the extension of credit; provided further, as used in this section:

a. "cash or debit card" means any instrument or device whether known as a debit card or by any other name, issued with or without fee by an issuer for the use of the cardholder in depositing, obtaining or transferring funds from a consumer banking electronic facility, and

b. "nationally recognized credit card" means any instrument or device, whether known as a credit card, credit plate, charge plate or by any other name, issued with or without fee by an issuer for the use of the cardholder in obtaining money, goods, services or anything else of value on credit which is accepted by over one hundred merchants;

6. Offer or furnish any prize, premium, gift or similar inducement to a consumer in connection with the sale of alcoholic beverage, except that goods or merchandise included by the manufacturer in packaging with alcoholic beverages or for packaging with alcoholic beverages shall not be included in this prohibition, but no wholesaler or package store shall sell any alcoholic beverage prepackaged with other goods or merchandise at a price which is greater than the price at which the alcoholic beverage alone is sold;

7. Permit any person under twenty-one (21) years of age to enter into, remain within or loiter about the licensed premises; or

8. Pay for alcoholic beverages by a check or draft which is dishonored by the drawee when presented to such drawee for payment; and the ABLE Commission may cancel or suspend the license of any retailer who has given a check or draft, as maker or endorser, which is so dishonored upon presentation.

D. No wholesaler licensee shall:

1. Sell or deliver any amount of spirits or wines to any package store licensee on Saturday or Sunday; or

2. Sell or deliver any amount of spirits or wines to any package store licensee on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Day.

E. No mixed beverage or beer and wine licensee shall:

1. Purchase or receive any alcoholic beverage other than from a person holding a wholesaler or Class B wholesaler license issued pursuant to the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Control Act; provided, a mixed beverage or beer and wine licensee whose premises are a restaurant may purchase wine produced at wineries in this state directly from an Oklahoma winemaker as provided in Section 3 of Article XXVIII of the Oklahoma Constitution;

2. Transport alcoholic beverages from the place of purchase to the licensed premises unless the licensee also holds a private carrier license issued by the ABLE Commission;

3. Use or allow the use of any mark or label on a container of alcoholic beverage which is kept for sale which does not clearly and precisely indicate the nature of the contents or which might deceive or conceal the nature, composition, quantity, age or quality of such beverage;

4. Keep or knowingly permit any alcoholic beverage to be kept, brought or consumed on the licensed premises which is not allowed to be sold or served upon such premises; or

5. Allow any person under twenty-one (21) years of age to enter into, remain within or loiter about the designated bar area of the licensed premises, except for persons who incidentally pass through the designated area.

The prohibition in this subsection against persons under twenty-one (21) years of age entering or remaining within the designated bar area of the licensed premises shall not apply, if the licensed premises are closed to the public during a time the premises are legally permitted to be open for business and the premises are used for a private party at which alcoholic beverages may be served to persons twenty-one (21) years of age of older. Any alcoholic beverages served at a private party on the licensed premises may be purchased from the licensee at a negotiated price or purchased privately and served at the private party on the licensed premises. Any licensee who desires to conduct such a private party shall notify the ABLE Commission, in writing, at least ten (10) calendar days prior to the private party. The notification shall include the date, time, and purpose of the private party and any other information the ABLE Commission may deem necessary.

F. No bottle club licensee shall:

1. Use or allow the use of any mark or label on a container of alcoholic beverage which does not clearly and precisely indicate the nature of the contents or which might deceive or conceal the nature, composition, quantity, age or quality of any such beverage;

2. Act as an agent for any bottle club member and purchase any alcoholic beverage for the member;

3. Use or allow the use of any pool system of storage or purchase of alcoholic beverages;

4. Allow any person to enter or remain in the designated bar or lounge area of the club unless that person possesses a valid membership card for that club issued by the club;

5. Sell any alcoholic beverage;

6. Deliver or furnish to any club member any alcoholic beverage that does not belong to the member;

7. Serve alcoholic beverages to any person who does not possess a valid membership card for that club issued by the club;

8. Issue a membership card for the club to a person under twenty-one (21) years of age; or

9. Allow any person under twenty-one (21) years of age to enter into, remain within or loiter about the designated bar area of the licensed premises, except for members of a musical band employed or hired as provided in paragraph 2 of subsection B of this section when the band is to perform within such area.

The prohibition in this subsection against persons under twenty-one (21) years of age entering or remaining within the designated bar area of the licensed premises shall not apply, if the licensed premises are closed to the public during a time the premises are legally permitted to be open for business and the premises are used for a private party at which alcoholic beverages may be served to persons twenty-one (21) years of age or older. Any alcoholic beverages served at a private party on the licensed premises may be purchased from the licensee at a negotiated price or purchased privately and served at the private party on the licensed premises. Any licensee who desires to conduct such a private party shall notify the ABLE Commission, in writing, at least ten (10) calendar days prior to the private party. The notification shall include the date, time, and purpose of the private party and any other information the ABLE Commission may deem necessary.

G. No special event or caterer licensee shall:

1. Purchase or receive any alcoholic beverage other than from a person holding a wholesaler or Class B wholesaler license issued pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Control Act; provided, a special event or caterer licensee may purchase wine produced at wineries in this state directly from an Oklahoma winemaker as provided in Section 3 of Article XXVIII of the Oklahoma Constitution; or

2. Transport alcoholic beverages from the place of purchase to the licensed premises unless the licensee also holds a private carrier license issued by the ABLE Commission.

H. No person operating a cafe, restaurant, club, or any place of recreation shall permit any person to be drunk or intoxicated in the person’s place of business.

Title 37 O.S. 538 provides:

A. Any person who shall operate a whiskey still with intent to produce alcoholic beverages or any person who shall carry on the business of a distiller without having in his possession a valid and existing distiller's license issued pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Control Act shall be guilty of a felony and upon conviction be fined not less than Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00) nor more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or imprisoned in the State Penitentiary for not more than three (3) years, or both such fine and imprisonment.

B. Any person who shall file a false or fraudulent return in connection with any tax imposed by the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, or willfully evade, or attempt to evade, any tax herein levied shall be guilty of a felony and upon conviction be fined not less than Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00) nor more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or imprisoned in the State Penitentiary for not more than three (3) years, or both such fine and imprisonment

C. Any person who shall knowingly engage in any activity or perform any transaction or act for which a license is required under the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, not having such license, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and for the first offense be fined not more than Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00) and imprisoned for not less than thirty (30) days nor more than six (6) months, and for a second or subsequent offense shall be guilty of a felony and be fined not more than Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00), or imprisoned in the State Penitentiary for not more than one (1) year, or both such fine and imprisonment.

D. Any person holding a license issued pursuant to the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Control Act who shall sell or deliver alcoholic beverage to any person not entitled to purchase or receive same, except as provided in subsection F of this section, or who shall possess for sale any alcoholic beverage which he is not entitled to sell under his license, or any person who buys any alcoholic beverage, either retail or wholesale, from any person other than a licensed dealer under the terms of the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction be fined not more than One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00), or imprisoned in the county jail for not more than six (6) months, or both such fine and imprisonment.

E. Any person under twenty-one (21) years of age who shall misrepresent his age in writing or by presenting false documentation of age for the purpose of inducing any person to sell or serve him alcoholic beverage or issue him a bottle club membership card, or who enters or attempts to enter a package store or a separate or enclosed bar area as designated by the ABLE Commission, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and fined not more than Fifty Dollars ($50.00). In addition, if a person is convicted or pleads guilty to a violation of the provisions of this subsection in any court having jurisdiction over said offense, the court may order the Department of Public Safety to cancel or deny the offender's privilege to operate a motor vehicle and, upon such order, shall require that the operator's or chauffeur's license, if any, be surrendered to the Department pursuant to Section 47-6-209 of Title 47 of the Oklahoma Statutes. The cancellation or denial period shall be for one (1) year, or until the person reaches twenty-one (21) years of age, whichever is longer. Any person whose driving privileges are ordered cancelled or denied pursuant to this section may petition the court of original jurisdiction for review of the order. Upon notice and hearing, the court may modify or withdraw the order as the court deems appropriate except:

1. A court may not withdraw an order for at least ninety (90) days following the issuance of the order if it is the first such order issued regarding the person named; and

2. A court may not withdraw an order for at least six (6) months following the issuance of the order if it is the second or subsequent such order issued regarding the person named. If the Department receives written notice from the court of original jurisdiction that it has withdrawn such an order, the Department shall immediately reinstate any driving privileges that have been canceled or denied under this section, without requiring payment of a reinstatement fee.

F. Any person who shall knowingly sell, furnish or give alcoholic beverage to a person under twenty-one (21) years of age shall be guilty of a felony, and shall be fined not less than Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00) nor more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or imprisoned in the State Penitentiary for not more than five (5) years, or both such fine and imprisonment. The ABLE Commission shall revoke the license of any person convicted of a violation of this subsection.

G. Any person who shall knowingly sell, furnish or give alcoholic beverage to an insane, mentally deficient, or intoxicated person shall be guilty of a felony, and shall be fined not less than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) nor more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), or imprisoned in the State Penitentiary for not more than one (1) year, or both such fine and imprisonment.

H. The payment of the special tax required of liquor dealers by the United States by any person within this state without a corresponding state license shall constitute prima facie evidence of an intention to violate the provisions of the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Control Act.

I. Any person operating a cafe, restaurant, club or any place of recreation who permits any person to be drunk or intoxicated in said place of business shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be fined not more than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00), or imprisoned for not more than thirty (30) days or by both such fine and imprisonment.

J. Any person selling or keeping a package store open to sell any alcoholic beverage during any day or hours not authorized by the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Control Act shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

Outcome: CRT MIN. DEFENDANT APPEARS IN PERSON AND WITH HIS ATTORNEY KEVIN ETHERINGTON. STATE APPEARS THRU AUSTIN MURREY. DEFENDANT'S SWORN, TESTIMONY'S RECEIVED. DEFENDANT ENTERS A PLEA OF GUILTY TO COUNT 1, THE AMENDED MISDEMEANOR CHARGE OF SELL OF LOW POINT ALCOHOL TO A MINOR. COURT ACCEPTS THAT PLEA, ADVISES THE DEFENDANT OF THE RIGHTS HE'S GIVING UP BY ENTERING THAT PLEA. HE UNDERSTANDS THOSE RIGHTS. HE'S SENTENCED TO 1 (ONE) YEAR IN THE CANADIAN COUNTY JAIL. THAT'S ALL SUSPENDED. HE'S TO BE SUPERVISED BY THE D.A.'S OFFICE, COMPLETE HIS PROBATIONARY REQUIREMENTS AND PAY FINES AND COSTS. HE'S ADVISED OF HIS APPELLATE RIGHTS; COURT REPORTER WAS WAIVED. COSTS: $200.00 FINE, $200.00 VCA AND JAIL FEES ARE ASSESSED. RULE 8 HEARING TO BE CONDUCTED OCTOBER 24, 2012 @ 9AM. HE'S ORDERED TO REAPPEAR AT THAT DATE AND TIME FOR THAT HEARING. BOND EXONERATED. JUDGE JACK MCCURDY

CRT MIN. DEFENDANT APPEARS IN PERSON AND WITH HIS ATTORNEY KEVIN ETHERINGTON. STATE APPEARS THRU AUSTIN MURREY. DEFENDANT'S SWORN, TESTIMONY'S RECEIVED. DEFENDANT ENTERS A PLEA OF GUILTY TO COUNT 2. COURT ACCEPTS THAT PLEA, ADVISES THE DEFENDANT OF THE RIGHTS HE'S GIVING UP BY ENTERING THAT PLEA. HE UNDERSTANDS THOSE RIGHTS. HE'S SENTENCED TO 6 (SIX) MONTHS IN THE CANADIAN COUNTY JAIL. THAT'S ALL SUSPENDED TO RUN CONCURRENT WITH COUNT 1. HE'S TO PAY COSTS. HE'S ADVISED OF HIS APPELLATE RIGHTS; COURT REPORTER WAS WAIVED. COSTS: JAIL FEES ARE ASSESSED. RULE 8 HEARING TO BE CONDUCTED OCTOBER 24, 2012 @ 9AM. HE'S ORDERED TO REAPPEAR AT THAT DATE AND TIME FOR THAT HEARING. BOND EXONERATED. JUDGE JACK MCCURDY

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Defendant's Experts:

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