One clerk who sold beer to an underage police agent took a plea deal, while another decided to talk to a lawyer before deciding on accepting a plea or going to trial.
Samantha M. Tramel, 23, entered a guilty plea Tuesday morning before General Sessions Judge Bill Locke to the charge of selling alcohol to a minor. She was granted a six-month judicial diversion and must pay $50 plus cost and perform 16 hours public service work. The diversion means she can have her record erased after she successfully completes the six months on probation. She was working at Pump and Pay East at the time of the offense.
The other person who allegedly sold beer to the police operative, Christian Alexis Lopez-Diaz, 18, will appear for hearing Feb. 20 before Judge Locke. He was working at Fiesta Ranchero at the time of the offense.
The two places of business were the only ones which sold alcohol to a female, 18-year-old undercover police agent. A total of 53 businesses were approached.
In each case, the teen asked to buy beer despite being under the age of 21. The operative did not offer any type of fake ID in order to trick the clerks. State law requires ID to be checked on all alcohol sales, no matter how old the buyer appears. Purchase or possession of alcohol by anyone under the age of 21 is illegal in Tennessee.
In the citation against Tramel, police say she sold the teen a 24-ounce Coors Lite.
Once the cases are settled in criminal court, the businesses will face the McMinnville Beer Board. Cases are normally settled by a fine, provided the establishments are first-time offenders.