×

Liquor sales scrutinized

Minot man faces charges for liquor sale at party

A Minot man is facing charges in both Minot Municipal Court and district court for selling alcohol. The selling of alcoholic beverages without having a license to do so is illegal under Minot’s Code of Ordinances and state law. The parameters of both may be debated in courtrooms in the coming weeks.

Jeffrey Young Sr., 52, Minot, has been charged with liquor license required in municipal court and state/local license required in district court. The two charges in separate courts stem from the requirement that anyone selling alcoholic beverages must have a city and a state license.

After reviewing a flyer advertising a party located at “The Warehouse” at 725 20th Avenue SE, undercover agents working for Minot police entered the premises in the early morning hours of Oct. 9. They discovered that men were required to pay a $10 cover charge at the door and women $5. According to an affidavit filed with the court, beer and alcohol was being sold at a bar inside the premises for $3 per drink.

Investigators obtained a search warrant for the premises and interviewed Young. Detectives seized eight bottles of unopened liquor, full cases of beer, more than $1,000 in bills, rolled marijuana cigarettes and a small digital scale. Further investigation revealed that none of the businesses located in the building had a license to sell alcoholic beverages.

Minot’s Code of Ordinances reads: “Sale shall mean and include any transfer, exchange, or barter in any manner or by any means whatsoever for a consideration and includes all sales made by any person, whether principal proprietor, agent, servant, employee or corporation. No person shall engage in the sale of alcoholic beverages at retail within the city without first obtaining a license therefore.”

The fee for a retail beer license is $625 per year. The fee for a retail liquor license is $2,500 yearly.

Young entered a “not guilty” plea to the charge of Liquor License Required in front of Municipal Court Judge Mark Rasmuson on Tuesday. Young is scheduled to return to municipal court Dec. 6 at which time he can change his plea or request a court or jury trial on the City of Minot charges. Young also has a pretrial conference set for March 1 in district court regarding the state charges.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today