A West Point city councilwoman was to go before a Columbus judge today after being arrested on misdemeanor charges of serving alcohol without a license.

Judy Wilkinson, who owns a bridal shop on Veterans’ Parkway in Columbus, is innocent, said her attorney, Benjamin Wilcox.

Wilkinson went before a judge Monday in city Recorder’s Court, where Wilcox asked that the case be continued until today.

Wilkinson, 41, who was re-elected to City Council on Nov. 3, was arrested by Columbus police Saturday afternoon when six officers arrived at the store to do a “business check,” Wilcox said. Police had received a complaint that Wilkinson was serving alcohol during an open house at her business.

She was arrested at the store, later posting a $700 bond before appearing in court Monday morning. She’s facing two charges: operating without an alcohol license - a local charge - and “dealing in alcohol without a license” - a state charge.

Wilcox said Wilkinson is being tried only on the local charge; the state charge is to be turned over to state court in Muscogee County.

Police say Wilkinson “offered and had an employee serve a mimosa,” a mixture of orange juice and champagne, without having an alcohol license for the business. Wilcox said the city ordinance reads such that Wilkinson should be allowed to serve alcohol as long as she doesn’t sell it.

“It shall be unlawful for any person, corporation, partnership or other legal entity to posses, sell or posses for the purpose of sale at any business location … any alcoholic beverage where the person does not have a valid alcoholic beverage license,” the ordinance reads.

Wilkinson was not selling alcohol at her event, Wilcox said.

“She was not distributing it, she was not selling it, she asked if anyone was under 21 and she only let people have one” drink, her attorney said.

Wilcox said Wilkinson specifically asked about being able to serve alcohol when she renewed her business license earlier this year. Wilkinson picked up the application, then took it back to ask a clerk if she should check a box on the form asking if she’d be selling or consuming alcohol, her attorney said. The clerk told Wilkinson not to bother checking the box, even when she explained the type of event she’d be hosting, Wilcox said.

“(Wilkinson) asked for help and she trusted that employee,” he said.

Columbus police were not available to comment further on the incident, and Wilkinson referred all inquiries to Wilcox. Wilkinson has filed a formal complaint with the city in regard to her arrest, but Wilcox had no comment on the complaint.

West Point Mayor Drew Ferguson said Wilkinson called him Sunday to inform him of her arrest. He said City Council will wait for the legal process to play out before discussing any type of disciplinary action.

“I’ve been at events in LaGrange, Newnan and downtown West Point where alcohol was served,” Ferguson said.

Jennifer Shrader may be reached at jshrader@ lagrangenews.com or at (706) 884-7311, Ext. 236.