A Law Firm You Can Trust®
Free Initial Consultation & 24-7 Service
Free Initial Consultation & 24-7 Service
College life often involves social gatherings, parties, and celebrations, but one mistake or misunderstanding can quickly lead to legal issues. If you’ve been charged with public intoxication, you’re not alone, and it doesn’t have to define your future.
At Angotti & Straface Attorneys at Law, L.C., we defend college students across West Virginia, including those at West Virginia University (WVU), Fairmont State University, and Pierpont Community & Technical College, who have been accused of public intoxication or alcohol-related offenses.
In West Virginia, public intoxication is considered a misdemeanor offense. It’s typically charged when someone appears to be intoxicated or under the influence of drugs or alcohol in a public place and is perceived as disturbing others or posing a safety risk.
Although public intoxication is a misdemeanor, a conviction can lead to significant, long-term consequences, particularly for college students. It may impact scholarships, internships, graduate school admissions, and future employment prospects.
Our attorneys have decades of experience representing college students charged with public intoxication and other alcohol-related offenses in Monongalia, Marion, Preston, and Tucker Counties.
We aim to minimize the impact on your record and, whenever possible, avoid formal convictions through dismissal, diversion programs, or deferred adjudication. Our goal is to help you move forward without a criminal record holding you back.
Even if your case doesn’t lead to a conviction in court, West Virginia University and other colleges often conduct their own disciplinary hearings for off-campus incidents.
A public intoxication charge may lead to:
We understand how these hearings work and can represent you during the process to protect your educational future while ensuring fairness.
If you’re a first-time offender, you may qualify for alternative sentencing options or pre-trial diversion programs designed to promote education and rehabilitation instead of punishment. We’ll work to secure an outcome that helps you learn and recover without a criminal record following you.
If you’re a college student facing a public intoxication charge, don’t take it lightly; it could affect your education and your future. Let our experienced attorneys guide you through the process and protect your rights.