Drunk in Public: Student Charged for Urinating on Nativity Scene
With his apology for urinating on an outdoor nativity scene also comes legal and educational consequences for college senior Nathan Strawn.
According to the Citizensvoice.com, the King's College senior is accused of urinating on the outdoor nativity scene in the public square of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and apologized for his behavior. He is facing charges for being drunk in public.
"I was being a drunken idiot," Strawn said in his apology.
He was charged with public drunkenness, indecent exposure, open lewdness, desecration of venerated objects, and disorderly conduct.
Legal problems relating to alcohol are not limited to drunk driving, DUI, or DWI arrests. Excessive alcohol consumption is an offense commonly known as being "drunk in public."
Public intoxication typically refers to a person acting disorderly in a public place because of alcohol or an illegal drug substance.
Public intoxication is generally not defined by a blood alcohol content level, but rather by the harmful or disruptive behavior of a person who is intoxicated. This is distinguished from state laws which govern driving while intoxicated (DUI/DWI).
According to police, a Wilkes-Barre City officer spotted Strawn fully exposed and urinating on the outdoor nativity scene at about 1:54 a.m.
He has vowed to quit drinking.
Strawn said he is most concerned about the indecent exposure charge.
A preliminary hearing is set for Jan. 20, and Strawn said he intends to plead guilty.
School officials say Strawn could receive discipline from King's College that ranges from a simple warning to expulsion.
When incidents of this nature happen to King's students off campus, the procedure includes the student meeting with school officials. On-campus incidents are handled by a judicial review board.
- The Law: Public Drunkenness Is a Crime (Time)
- Urine trouble! Police: Student urinated on nativity scene (ABC News)
- Student apologizes for urinating on nativity scene (Associated Press)