Former Miss Teen convicted
Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2003 8:19 am
ARLINGTON, Tex. (Court TV) — A former Miss Teen Texas apparently did not practice what she preached.
When Julia E. Anderson claimed the crown in 2002, she won it on a platform discouraging underage drinking. That platform was yanked out from under her this week when an Arlington jury took just 10 minutes to convict her of public intoxication.
Anderson, 18, was fined $126 and ordered to perform 12 hours of community service relating to alcohol misuse. Her driver's license also will be suspended for 30 days.
Anderson was arrested after leaving a party at an Arlington apartment complex on July 13, 2002, less than two weeks after being crowned. Three police officers reportedly responded to a 911 caller who reported that Anderson and her boyfriend were about to drive away from the party while intoxicated.
An officer reported that Anderson smelled of alcohol, and she told him that she had been drinking. While denying the charge, Anderson stepped down from her post weeks later, citing the negative publicity from her arrest.
During her trial, officers testified that they found a plastic cup with orange juice and liquor in the car. Her breath smelled like alcohol, her speech was slurred and her balance was poor, the officers testified.
Defense attorney Mimi Coffey had argued that no sobriety tests were performed and there was no proof that Anderson was intoxicated.
Anderson, now a performer at the Six Flags Over Texas amusement park, reportedly plans to appeal the conviction.
When Julia E. Anderson claimed the crown in 2002, she won it on a platform discouraging underage drinking. That platform was yanked out from under her this week when an Arlington jury took just 10 minutes to convict her of public intoxication.
Anderson, 18, was fined $126 and ordered to perform 12 hours of community service relating to alcohol misuse. Her driver's license also will be suspended for 30 days.
Anderson was arrested after leaving a party at an Arlington apartment complex on July 13, 2002, less than two weeks after being crowned. Three police officers reportedly responded to a 911 caller who reported that Anderson and her boyfriend were about to drive away from the party while intoxicated.
An officer reported that Anderson smelled of alcohol, and she told him that she had been drinking. While denying the charge, Anderson stepped down from her post weeks later, citing the negative publicity from her arrest.
During her trial, officers testified that they found a plastic cup with orange juice and liquor in the car. Her breath smelled like alcohol, her speech was slurred and her balance was poor, the officers testified.
Defense attorney Mimi Coffey had argued that no sobriety tests were performed and there was no proof that Anderson was intoxicated.
Anderson, now a performer at the Six Flags Over Texas amusement park, reportedly plans to appeal the conviction.
