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Friday, March 29
The Indiana Daily Student

'IDS' editor charged with 4 misdemeanors

A night of birthday celebration went horribly awry for IDS Assistant Arts Editor Joseph S. Pete, a sophomore.\nPete, 19, of Wright Quad, was arrested at 2:27 a.m. Thursday at the Foster Quad Center Building and charged with possession of marijuana less than 30 grams, illegal consumption, resisting law enforcement and public intoxication, all misdemeanors, according to the IU Police Department.\nHe has also served as IDS campus editor and as an opinion columnist.\nPete, who turned 19 on Wednesday, said he was "very inebriated" and walking home from a party at a friend's house when he became lost near Foster Quad. \nIUPD spokesman Lt. Jerry Minger said officers were called to the scene by Foster officials, who reported that a man was attempting to enter the residence hall's locked cafeteria.\nWhen police responded, Minger said they found Pete and observed he smelled of alcohol and was very intoxicated. The police spokesman said Pete refused to identify himself, and verbally abused and struggled with officers as they attempted to handcuff him. Minger added police also found a small amount of marijuana on Pete.\nPete denied resisting officers or intentionally trying to enter the cafeteria, but regretted his other actions.\n"Ordinarily I'm not a heavy drinker," Pete said, "but it was my birthday and a bad day at work. I acted in a highly irresponsible way for which I apologize."\nHe was taken to the Monroe County Correctional Center, where he was released on his own recognizance at 11:16 a.m. Thursday after a jail official said he "sobered up."\nMinger said Pete will make a court appearance today, and will face charges in the county legal system and also before a University Judicial Board. \n"While it might seem to some people like double jeopardy, you're dealing with two different entities," he said.\nAlthough Dean of Students Richard McKaig declined to comment on this individual case, he said that when a student is arrested on campus IUPD provides information on the circumstances to his office within two weeks. \nMcKaig said the campus judicial process unfolds over time: The case is investigated, a student receives a charge letter and has a hearing, with the possibility of appeals. \nPete apologized to the community and his readership for his "severe lapse in judgement."\n"I'm deeply ashamed of my own personal behavior," he said. "I found this a very disagreeable experience, and one which I have no intention of repeating"

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