Three clerks from Great Bend convenience stores that allegedly sold beer to underage consumers on May 16 face misdemeanor charges in Barton County District Court.
Jeanna Marie Richter, Kimberly Schlotthauer and Amber Gawlowski each entered a plea of not guilty to furnishing alcohol or cereal malt beverage to a minor, a Class B misdemeanor. If convicted, each charge could result in a fine of $250 to $1,000 and/or up to six months in jail.
All three were served warrants and made their first court appearances on June 30 before District Magistrate Judge Verle Wiley. In addition to entering pleas, two of the three requested court-appointed attorneys. All three suspects were then released on their own recognizance. Pre-trial conferences were scheduled for July 21, but Gawlowski’s has been moved up to 8:30 a.m. on Monday, July 7, according to court records. Three out of eight cereal malt beverage retailers reportedly sold to underage consumers at a sting conducted by the Kansas Department of Alcohol Beverage Control on May 16 in Barton County.
In each instance, “They checked ID’s and sold anyway,” said CynDee Christiansen, Barton County Alcohol and Drug Prevention Task Force. Individual must be 21 or older to purchase beer. It was the third sting conducted this past spring in Barton County. At the April 11 sting, there were three sales of alcohol to a minor out of 22 attempts in Barton County. At a March sting, four businesses sold alcohol to an underage buyer out of 14 businesses.
Each time, a different business was involved. All of the cases were turned over to the Barton County Attorney.
Businesses may be fined $1,000, and the offending clerks $250.