More than 300 face the music for partying too much at Mardi Gras

ST. LOUIS -- The year's annual Mardi Gras festival was generally considered a successful party and happy occasion for thousands of people.

But the revelers who partied just a bit too much paid the piper on Friday, in what has become known as the city's "Mardi Gras Court."

Dozens of mostly teenagers and college students appeared before St. Louis Municipal Court Judge James Wahl, who faced a docket of 312 citations for such things as public urination, buying alcohol for minors, minors possessing alcohol, indecent exposure and disturbing the peace.

So many people were on the docket that the offenders were put into an overflow courtroom, then called alphabetically to the bench.

While some arrived dressed up and with mom and dad nearby, others were wearing shorts and flip-flops. One young man was cited twice for public urination -- in the same day. Another was clutching a Budweiser cap while he pleaded not guilty to buying alcohol for minors.

This year's court proceedings come as residents of Soulard are complaining to city officials that the Mardi Gras party has become too loud and raucous for the neighborhood.

Wahl told many of the offenders that they should be careful not to make decisions that could come back to haunt them later in their lives or careers.

Nearly all of those in court were advised they could plead guilty to littering or have the charge dismissed by doing community service. Those who instead pleaded guilty to the what they were accused of were admonished by the judge.

One offender was cut a break because he said he was training for the Navy Seals. Wahl sent away several others with a "Good luck at school."

But even if the sentences were lenient, Wahl insisted on proper courtroom decorum, such as being called "sir," no talking, no hats and single-file lines. One teenage girl had to wait for hours for the end of the docket after being kicked out of the courtroom when she was caught talking.

More often than not, Wahl, a father of teenagers, leaned toward kindness.

His second to last case was a 17-year-old from O'Fallon, Ill., who had been ticketed for lifting her shirt. She told the judge a group of boys forced her to do it, and Wahl gave her a reduced sentence.

"Now get out of here before I change my mind," he said.