afrotc scholarship cadet caught with fake ID

A

afrotcex

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Sep 21, 2018
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I have never regretted anything more in my life.
I am currently an AS200 on a 4-yr scholarship who had their fake id taken 1 hr ago.
I was not in possession of any alcohol, it was confiscated when entering a liquor store with my friends. I am unsure if the store will turn it into the police, but if they do (which I think they will), what are my chances of not being kicked out?
I have no criminal record, a technical major with a 3.9 gpa and 98 PFA score.
I understand that I am so dumb to even think about risking my entire future, but I really could use the advice to figure out what my plan of action should be once I receive the ticket.
 
Agree. The store took it, even if they turn it over to the police would be surprised they could do much with it legally. There are a few law enforcement officers on this board that can probably chime in. If it’s just they took it and that is the end... I think you know to consider it lucky.
 
afrotcex said:
I have never regretted anything more in my life.
Click to expand...

I hope that a lot of prospective ROTC and SA candidates read this. When we are young we can often make decisions that sound good at the time and it is easy to think we will never get caught (trust me, I had my share of bad decisions in my youth). Once you get caught reality sets in quickly and you see much more clearly the risks of a bad decision.

I sincerely hope you get through this OK and others can learn from your experience.
 
First, was it your real name and address on it? If not, did they take your real info?

The fact they didn’t call the police on the spot is good.

One of my kids got arrested once but she was using it to get into a bar in Ocean City, MD. She was charged with a misdemeanor but they knocked it down to a violation. $1000 fine, 100 hours of community service.
 
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While you are stewing and worrying about this, quite rightly, good for you that you recognized you did a bone-headed thing and owned it.

Spend some time thinking about whether you were a leader or a follower in this situation. How did you find yourself making the decision to have a fake ID? Were you easily led by peers? Did you just go along with the wrong, because you didn’t want to be ragged on if you chose differently from the group? Did you perform faulty operational risk analysis - Bonehead Thinking - “I won’t get caught?” Were you planning to drink underage? Drive after drinking? Do some self-examination and think about the next time you’re skidding out onto the misconduct thin ice. What can you say or do to avoid those situations where peer pressure and really bad impulse decisions are likely to be present? Lastly, think about the people you spend time with. True friends will respect your decisions, won’t pressure you and will tell you when you’re engaging in risky behavior - because they know you have a lot at stake.

I don’t need answers to these questions, but you do.
 
afrotcex said:
I have never regretted anything more in my life.
I am currently an AS200 on a 4-yr scholarship who had their fake id taken 1 hr ago.
I was not in possession of any alcohol, it was confiscated when entering a liquor store with my friends. I am unsure if the store will turn it into the police, but if they do (which I think they will), what are my chances of not being kicked out?
I have no criminal record, a technical major with a 3.9 gpa and 98 PFA score.
I understand that I am so dumb to even think about risking my entire future, but I really could use the advice to figure out what my plan of action should be once I receive the ticket.
Click to expand...

Why was your fake ID confiscated? Did you present it to the clerk in an attempt to purchase alcohol, or simply to gain entry to the store?
Curious as to what crimes actually were committed . Regardless, there were bad decisions made along the way. Some previous posters raised some good questions you need to reflect on.
Your best bet may be to go back to the store and speak to the manager explaining yourself as being a great kid who made a boneheaded decision, and give a sincere apology. Ask the mgr to destroy your fake ID and offer up a mutual idea of community service as your sentence.
Be honest and genuine, but own it.
Best of luck with your life lesson!
 
shock-n-awe said:
afrotcex said:
I have never regretted anything more in my life.
I am currently an AS200 on a 4-yr scholarship who had their fake id taken 1 hr ago.
I was not in possession of any alcohol, it was confiscated when entering a liquor store with my friends. I am unsure if the store will turn it into the police, but if they do (which I think they will), what are my chances of not being kicked out?
I have no criminal record, a technical major with a 3.9 gpa and 98 PFA score.
I understand that I am so dumb to even think about risking my entire future, but I really could use the advice to figure out what my plan of action should be once I receive the ticket.
Click to expand...

Why was your fake ID confiscated? Did you present it to the clerk in an attempt to purchase alcohol, or simply to gain entry to the store?
Curious as to what crimes actually were committed . Regardless, there were bad decisions made along the way. Some previous posters raised some good questions you need to reflect on.
Your best bet may be to go back to the store and speak to the manager explaining yourself as being a great kid who made a boneheaded decision, and give a sincere apology. Ask the mgr to destroy your fake ID and offer up a mutual idea of community service as your sentence.
Be honest and genuine, but own it.
Best of luck with your life lesson!
Click to expand...
That’s a good question, how did they know you had it?
 
NROTCdad said:
First, was it your real name and address on it? If not, did they take your real info?

The fact they didn’t call the police on the spot is good.

One of my kids got arrested once but she was using it to get into a bar in Ocean City, MD. She was charged with a misdemeanor but they knocked it down to a violation. $1000 fine, 100 hours of community service.
Click to expand...
I agree. They would most likely just call cops then and there but since they didn't, you could be in the clear. This probably wasn't their first time dealing with something like that... Its probably hanging somewhere so they know who you are now and that ur underage. Id be surprised if they took time out of their day to deal with it.
 
"I was not in possession of any alcohol, it was confiscated when entering a liquor store with my friends."

It sounds like it was not at purchasing, but upon entering.
 
NROTCdad said:
shock-n-awe said:
afrotcex said:
I have never regretted anything more in my life.
I am currently an AS200 on a 4-yr scholarship who had their fake id taken 1 hr ago.
I was not in possession of any alcohol, it was confiscated when entering a liquor store with my friends. I am unsure if the store will turn it into the police, but if they do (which I think they will), what are my chances of not being kicked out?
I have no criminal record, a technical major with a 3.9 gpa and 98 PFA score.
I understand that I am so dumb to even think about risking my entire future, but I really could use the advice to figure out what my plan of action should be once I receive the ticket.
Click to expand...

Why was your fake ID confiscated? Did you present it to the clerk in an attempt to purchase alcohol, or simply to gain entry to the store?
Curious as to what crimes actually were committed . Regardless, there were bad decisions made along the way. Some previous posters raised some good questions you need to reflect on.
Your best bet may be to go back to the store and speak to the manager explaining yourself as being a great kid who made a boneheaded decision, and give a sincere apology. Ask the mgr to destroy your fake ID and offer up a mutual idea of community service as your sentence.
Be honest and genuine, but own it.
Best of luck with your life lesson!
Click to expand...
That’s a good question, how did they know you had it?
Click to expand...

The store required you to show ID before entering.
 
NROTCdad said:
First, was it your real name and address on it? If not, did they take your real info?

The fact they didn’t call the police on the spot is good.

One of my kids got arrested once but she was using it to get into a bar in Ocean City, MD. She was charged with a misdemeanor but they knocked it down to a violation. $1000 fine, 100 hours of community service.
Click to expand...

So she has no record anymore? I'm just curious as to how I would report it to my wing commander.
 
I remember being in college and having a "State ID Card" from Massachusetts that showed I was 21. I ordered it through a National Lampoon magazine ad and chose the state farthest away from Seattle (I was at Seattle U) figuring that the bartenders would be less likely to know if it was real. What I didn't know was that there was a book with all of the state drivers licenses and any "state ID" cards. But not all bars had the book fortunately. I remember the ad clearly stating "Fool your friends! Not for ID purposes."
 
To the many mids/cadets (current and aspiring) reading this thread, we all thought we were invincible when we were your age. It comes with the territory. And we all learned at some point that we weren’t invincible — often the hard way, with consequences.

The difference for mids/cadets (again, current and aspiring) is that the consequences are potentially quite severe. What might result in a stern lecture or a grounding or probation or community service for some people could mean no commission or no appointment for you. That would suck.

@Capt MJ said it well. When you’re about to do something that you know you shouldn’t, ask yourself if you’re leading or following. Your answer should serve as a powerful guide.
 
Laws vary from State to State in regard to possession of fraudulant ID. Some even rise to a federal level type crime as to what you were doing or trying to do with the fake ID, ie. entering the country, or boarding a plane. The real questions is why did you possess a fraudulant ID card to begin with? What have you been using this for? You didn't regret the decision to obtain a fake ID, nor did it seem you regretted the decision to possess same ID, only now that you feel threatned does it seem you it seems like the biggest regret of your life. With that said, you made a mistake..... learn from it, forgive yourself.... move on.

As a fraudulant ID I would assume it has none of your actual data on it, and the chances this is anything more than a simple confiscation added to the store owners collection of collected ID's are minimal.
 
As a CA police officer for nearly 24 years, I can say I have never responded to a store because the clerk confiscated a fake ID. Beyond that, even if I were to get that call, if the person who had the ID were gone when I got there, the process for bringing any charges, assuming the ID had your real name, would not be worth the effort. The clerk who took the ID was likely just trying to protect the store's liquor license. Getting caught serving a minor could mean criminal charges against the clerk, as well as a suspension of the liquor license. Very few clerks would be interested in going through the hassle of identifying the person they took the ID from and possibly going to court to ID the person as well. Your fake ID is probably in a drawer at the store or in a garbage can. In a college town, I imagine every liquor store frequently encounters these and accepts it as part of doing business. This is not to condone your actions. There is really only one reason for a underage college student to go into a liquor store with a fake ID. I am just saying, it looks like you dodged the train. This time.
 
I think ProudDad17 summed it up well. I also think it would be fine if you don’t have your real data. You are already paying a price for your misconduct. Your dilemma your worry what to do what not to do goes unresolved. And that’s the price you are paying now. This unnecessary worry stress you created as a direct result of possessing a fake ID. Why even have it if you had no intent on using it, ever. Even if you come out of this incident unscathed, you will consciously carry this guilt worry for a long time. And it will somehow affect your decisions in life. Some for good and some may hold you back in pursuing things you want but can’t. Look around the media today even people with impeccable education and career face controversy that may or may not have happened 35 years ago. So own your decisions and own your life and move on. I think you will be fine but you will one day commanding people your age facing a similar situation. Alcohol, sex, theft are the most common offense you will face to resolve as a young Captain in Commanding. What kind of commander will you be? People make mistakes from a young LT to senior commanding officers and NCOs. That and more is an open ethical dilemma for you and others navigating life.
 
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You got extremely lucky that it was just a liquor clerk, and not a cop spotting it in your wallet at a traffic stop etc.

You will be fine, it didn’t have your real name or address right? Consider this a lesson learned, and do NOT drink underage. Seriously it’s not that hard...I didn’t do it, and have had one drink over 21 (I don’t care to drink/don’t see the point).

Your future career isn’t worth it.

-2LT, USAF
 
If your real name is not on the ID and the police were not called/information exchanged you are very likely in the clear. Avoid the store for the rest of your college life! Valuable lesson here.. ask yourself is the $8 six pack worth your $150k scholarship? Probably not. The stress you are feeling now is pretty good punishment for such a boneheaded mistake. Move on and hope for he best.
 
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