Judge finds Charter not guilty on charges

“I don’t find the state met its burden of proof,” Goldman said, explaining that the prosecution was unable to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Charter served alcohol to minors or made the club “available with the purpose that alcohol would be made available for people under 21.”

The charges stemmed from two incidents that occurred during the 2007-08 academic year.

Charter was charged with one of the counts of serving alcohol to a minor in connection with Kara Murphy ’09’s consumption, while underage, of five beers in the club one night in November 2007.

Goldman ruled that there was “no evidence that Charter Club provided [Murphy’s] alcohol,” pointing out that Murphy was “quite adamant in her testimony” that she had received the drinks from friends who were over 21 rather than from a bartender or from students she identified as members of the club. Goldman explained that Charter used its wristband policy and signage to indicate that it had an official policy of not serving to minors.

Charter was charged with the second count of serving alcohol to a minor and the count of maintaining a nuisance in connection with an incident in April 2008. Borough Police Patrol Officer Daniel Federico was dispatched to Charter’s address and, upon arriving, encountered David Freifeld ’11 sitting, visibly intoxicated, on the sidewalk between the club and Prospect Avenue. Freifeld, who was underage, testified that he had become intoxicated at a room party and that he could not remember going to Charter.

Freifeld is also a senior advertising manager for The Daily Princetonian.

Goldman said she thought Friefeld’s testimony was “quite credible,” adding that his impaired memory was “consistent with being intoxicated.” She also noted that, in a videotaped interview conducted several months before the trial, Freifeld said he was only able to guess about his activities after leaving the room party.

Goldman said her verdict marked the end of case that was “important to everyone concerned” — including the defendant, Borough Police, the local community and the University — because of growing concerns about underage drinking on college campuses across the country.

Though she did not order any particular course of action, Goldman said that “Charter Club is certainly on notice that alcohol was provided to people under 21 by people who were over 21,” and she suggested a “meeting of the minds” between the club and local officials to address this concern.

“Although the police had basis to file the complaints, I simply find the state unable to make a case [beyond reasonable doubt],” she concluded.