In October of 2015, Mariana Casarez received a minor-in-possession charge for carrying a cup of alcohol. Today, she says she feels preyed upon by the police, who were waiting outside the party she was attending.
“I wasn’t innocent, but I know that they were waiting for me, and I feel like that’s not right,” Casarez said.
Jonathan Guzman also received a minor-in-possession charge at the same party. Guzman did not fight the charge but was unaware that his license would be suspended for a year.
“I don’t think that I deserved that,” Guzman said, “I wasn’t being responsible, and I got caught, but it was wrong for them to actively seek us out.”
Both Casarez and Guzman have paid the $250 fine but have found it difficult to get to work and do remedial tasks such as getting groceries. Because of the suspension of his license, Guzman stopped smoking cigarettes.
“I was wrong in what I did. I just don’t feel like people should be punished that harshly for being a kid,” Guzman said.
Casarez and Guzman both agree that their actions deserve to be punished, but the one-year suspension of their licenses and the active pursuit of the police to issue the charges have made them feel victimized.
Officer John Davis of the Chico Police Department disagreed with Casarez and Guzman, stating that he believes the crime fits the punishment.
“We aren’t just giving out the citations to random people. These kids are hurting themselves, and we’re trying to stop that,” said Davis.While Casarez and Guzman believe that the punishment for their crimes is excessive, Davis believes that they aren’t being preyed upon and the police are just keeping kids safe.
“I wasn’t innocent, but I know that they were waiting for me, and I feel like that’s not right,” Casarez said.
Jonathan Guzman also received a minor-in-possession charge at the same party. Guzman did not fight the charge but was unaware that his license would be suspended for a year.
“I don’t think that I deserved that,” Guzman said, “I wasn’t being responsible, and I got caught, but it was wrong for them to actively seek us out.”
Both Casarez and Guzman have paid the $250 fine but have found it difficult to get to work and do remedial tasks such as getting groceries. Because of the suspension of his license, Guzman stopped smoking cigarettes.
“I was wrong in what I did. I just don’t feel like people should be punished that harshly for being a kid,” Guzman said.
Casarez and Guzman both agree that their actions deserve to be punished, but the one-year suspension of their licenses and the active pursuit of the police to issue the charges have made them feel victimized.
Officer John Davis of the Chico Police Department disagreed with Casarez and Guzman, stating that he believes the crime fits the punishment.
“We aren’t just giving out the citations to random people. These kids are hurting themselves, and we’re trying to stop that,” said Davis.While Casarez and Guzman believe that the punishment for their crimes is excessive, Davis believes that they aren’t being preyed upon and the police are just keeping kids safe.
By Kenta McAfee