It all started so innocently. I booked a house for me and a few friends for spring break in Cherry Grove South Carolina. But then I ended up in jail.

Just a note to spring breakers

– if you rent a house, you are responsible for the stuff that goes down in that house. And by responsible I mean – you can go to jail.

So here I was, a junior at State, hanging with my homeys and soakin’ up some sun (I’m sure I’ll get skin cancer one day – but that’s another story) and chillin with some brewski on the beach. Then this thing happened – the kind of thing that makes for hilarious movies, but when it happens in the real world is like the worst thing that can happen. This night – it might have been two nights but I’m not really sure – which apparently was a great night for some people, turned my life into a nightmare.

Note to spring breakers

– Do not talk like that to police. The way I remembered it was that the local fuzz showed up. They said a neighbor had an issue with our party. As I recall they were old and jealous of the fun we were having. The way the police wrote it up was more like we were out of control. I personally was enjoying a nice evening while others who were outside the house were allegedly being obnoxious or whatever.

So when it all went south there were several cars with blue lights outside our vacation home and a hundred or so people making tracks through the sleepy little neighborhood that should have known it was spring break and just left for a week. I tried to assure the police officers that all was well and that our guests just happened to be leaving right now. I said they could continue looking for robbers and whatnot. But that was not taken in the manner I had intended it. I guess because I’m not from there they didn’t understand my dialect or whatever and things were misunderstood, resulting in my temporary incarceration.

The next morning bail was made and we were back on the beach contemplating the aftermath of the preceding evening when one of our crew told the tale of a similar event that had snuck up on his father, some thirty years ago. His dad had advised that once bail was paid in North Myrtle Beach that it was the end of the issue and I was good to go.

Another Spring Break Note

When I got back to school, however, I confided in a chap at the university what had happened. I said that I was “good to go.”

He told me that was no longer the case. That in today’s world the folks in North Myrtle Beach had no say in what could go down as far as scholarships, future career choices and even my reputation in the community.

He said to get a defense lawyer and go to court or there would be a conviction on my record. That could mean no more scholarships, no hope of getting a government job, and even worse.

I heeded his advice and called up Richard Gustafson, Attorney at Law! He said that for sure the night’s events could have far-reaching effects. He then went about my case lickety split! Richard listened to my story and believed me. After a few months it was all done.  Now I can go about my life as a regular citizen once again.

Don’t skip town thinking that your night in jail will be forgotten – Get Gustafson!