View Feedback | Send this Article | Published 2/28/03

Graphic By: Brandon Faust

The Robinsons were a typical American family. Lisa Robinson volunteered at their children's school and was known in the community as a very responsible parent. Neither of them had a prior criminal history. This just appears to be a "goof-up" by the Robinsons. But how big? Three hundred and sixty dollars worth of alcohol served to an estimated 60 to 80 teenagers is extreme. The prosecution proved that Lisa Robinson did not tell other parents that alcohol was being served, and provided the damaging evidence that she supposedly told the teenagers to drink vinegar to cover up the smell of alcohol once the police arrived. This made me really question the Robinsons' responsibility in the whole matter.

Currently, the laws in Virginia state that being charged with contributing to the delinqency of a minor is punishable with up to 12 months in jail and/or a $2500 fine. Lawrence Wren, George Robinson's attorney, was quoted as saying,"Historically, it didn't matter whether one was charged with 16 warrants or one. That's because no one had ever been sentenced to 12 months in jail on one count...It was unimaginable that the punishment for an adult giving alcohol to a minor, whether one count or 10, could put someone in jail for 12 months." The judge in this case, Judge Dwight D. Johnson, was known to be conservative and fairly lenient in his decision making. Wren continued on to say that, "In that court, a 30-day jail sentence would be harsh."

Another aspect to the case that does not help the Robinsons was the death of 16-year-old Brittany Bishop one month before the Robinson party. Brittany Bishop was a popular Albemarle County high schooler who died in a car accident after leaving a party where alcohol was served. Her death deeply affected the community. Lisa Robinson and Bishop's mother were good friends before the incident at the Robinsons'.

Lately, the conviction of the Robinsons has been supported by this issue. The fact that they were very irresponsible and handed out alcohol to minors, and the potential hazard these teenagers could have faced if they drove home, strikes a sensitive chord in the community. But what about their son? This boy, at the age of 16, is without his mother and father for the next eight years. It would hit me extremely hard if I was forced to live without my parents for eight years. As with any case of such magnitude, an appeal from the Robinsons can be expected.

I almost forgot to mention my encounter with Judge Johnson. This Whim staffer first faced him in the summer of 2001 when I was charged with reckless driving in Scottsville, Virginia, by a very "direct" female police officer (go figure). Just to let you know, the judges in Virginia tend to be very "hard-line," so my court date was making me very nervous. To my delight, Judge Johnson just fined me and sent me to driving school; no suspended license, no extreme lecture, no book. So you can see how this case with the Robinsons came as a surprise to me. I would stupidly make the same mistakes and have "altercations" with the state of Virginia, so maybe Judge Johnson did not punish me hard enough. The question right now is whether or not his decision with the Robinsons will set a precedent by severely limiting parent-guided teenage drinking, or instead just go down my road?

Please let me know your opinions on this case!