By JJ Bowman
News Editor
Lost in the hurt experienced by two fired cashiers, the anger exhibited by an entire Malibu community and the shock felt by hundreds of students who have committed the same crimes, two students face serious charges for using a fake ID to buy alcohol last November.
One of those students busted for buying alcohol from Ralphs now knows his fate. The lawyer for sophomore Dwight Burks, currently enrolled in the Buenos Aires overseas program, entered a plea Tuesday of no contest to two misdemeanor counts in connection with the infamous alcohol purchases that resulted in the dismissal of longtime Ralphs employees Harry McDermott and Nancy Cicatelli.
Burks accepted responsibility for purchasing liquor as a minor, and being in possession of and using false evidence of age. The charges of being a minor in possession of alcohol and forging a state seal were dropped.
The sophomore must pay $405 in fines, serve 36 months probation and attend one meeting each of alcoholics anonymous, narcotics anonymous, cocaine anonymous and one other recovery program, and then one additional meeting of a recovery program of his choice.
Burks also must stay away from Ralphs, not commit any criminal offense and obey all laws and orders of the court.
Burks declined to comment about the matter.
Cicatelli said she felt his sentence was just, but unfortunate.
“I feel bad about the whole situation,” she said.
Cicatelli and McDermott met with Ralphs officials Wednesday about being reinstated, but they still haven’t heard anything definitive from the company about their future, Cicatelli said.
The other student facing charges, sophomore Jonathan Rivas, will appear in court next week.
February 06, 2003