Court costs, cleanup crew cap off Little 500 weekend
About 270 people ordered to report for pretrial diversion
By Bethany Nolan, Herald-Times Staff Writer
Submitted by Linda Brady, District 7
April 18, 2005


Community Corrections Director Tom Rhodes stands in the bed of a truck shouting directions to about 200 students and other residents facing charges after the weekend's partying. Punishment includes serving on cleanup crews around campus. Staff photo by Monty Howell
After only four hours of sleep, the idea sounded like a good one.

One of three friends charged with illegal consumption during Little 500 weekend would use his emergency-only credit card from his parents to cover everyone's court costs. The others agreed to pay him back as soon as possible — all of them hoping their parents somehow wouldn't find out.

But coming up with $331 for the pretrial diversion program — which allows offenders charged with certain misdemeanors to avoid having a criminal conviction on their record by paying a fee and performing community service — wasn't easy to do in a few hours, one friend groused.
"It's probably the most expensive case of beer I've ever drunk," said one of the three, who would identify himself only as John.

"It wasn't a good night, but it was something I'll never forget," said another, who said his name was Casey.

About 270 people were ordered to appear at the Monroe County Justice Building Sunday morning for a special court day to handle Little 500 arrests. Many were cited for alcohol violations, such as public intoxication and illegal consumption. That number's a bit down from past years, said Sue Head, executive director of the Monroe County Prosecutor's office.

In 2002, more than 400 people were charged during the well-known party weekend.
By 9:30 a.m., people lined the hallways of the Justice Building, many talking on cell phones to friends or parents as they worked their way through various stations set up for paperwork.
County employees sporting matching shirts — yellow for prosecutor's office and white for probation — answered questions such as "Where's the nearest ATM?" and "What line do I go to next?"

"This is ridiculous," said one girl sitting on a bench, who refused to give her name. "I have a three-hour drive when I get out of here and I have three papers to write. It sucks."

Upstairs, in Room 309, Monroe Circuit Judge MaryEllen Diekhoff heard cases for those who preferred not to go through pretrial diversion.

One 19-year-old, wearing jeans and a faded Patagonia T-shirt, crumpled his ball cap in his hands while standing before her. He appeared nervous, briefly raising his left hand instead of his right when being sworn in, only to switch quickly when Diekhoff prompted, "Right hand."

By 10 a.m., activity in the building was winding down — but it's not the last of Little 5 revelers who will be seen in court.

Security officers taped a sign on the door, reminding would-be court goers that if they'd missed Sunday court, they should come back today.

Reporter Bethany Nolan can be reached at 331-4373 or by e-mail at bnolan@heraldt.com.

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