Rebecca Reed, one of seven people in the Homeless Court held on Friday, stood before black-robbed Denver County Court Judge James Breese and pleaded guilty to consuming alcohol in a public place, although she was not sure she was guilty of the charges.

“I understand what I am accused of, but I want to say that I was in a group and the alcohol wasn’t mine, but the officer didn’t even ask whose it was,” she told the court. The proceedings were held in a courtroom-like room in the Sturm College of Law as part of PHC. Homeless Court was the place to clear up warrants for any misdemeanors a homeless person had received in Denver.

Breese replied, “You don’t have to plead guilty. Instead you can go to trial.”

Reed thought for a few moments, then accepted the plea-bargain sentence by agreeing to spend five hours doing community service. If she had gone to trial and lost, she was liable for a fine of $80 plus court costs.

“I have been informed of how you are changing your life in other ways as well as this. This is the basis for my decision and keep at it,” said Breese.

Next came Howard Baugh. As he approached the judge, he patted down his hair, buttoned his jacket and straightened his posture. The charge against Baugh was the same as the one against Reed.

Baugh got the same sentence.

Breese stated, “You work at Jesus Saves, are a veteran and now a carpenter. You are beginning to turn things around, and I hope this will help you continue on that path.”

Katie Symons, DU coordinator of this year’s PHC, said, “There will be about 50-60 homeless individuals who will use these legal services to clear up some tickets they have and couldn’t clear up because they are homeless and couldn’t go to court because they don’t have a car or means to make it to their appointed court date.”

In Homeless Court, other homeless defendants approached the bench in the hopes of taking a step that could start turning their lives around.