Anime convention =/= rave. Someone forgot to tell them that. Also, controlled substances are not a "petty" issue. They are more of an "begging for a lawsuit" issue considering the act of offering said substances and the possibility of something *really* bad happening from consuming them. Perhaps MixBeat needs to spend a little more time hiring better workers...
You can also contact the judge that decided the case and explain why you were not there. I have a feeling that the attorney isn't going to be exactly honest about this if you go to him. Fines are a money maker for rural counties...
I just got my invite from hulu. One word- yay! I've already watched the first ep of The Crow... now they just need Renagade, Xena, Hercules, Forever Knight, Beastmaster, Kung Fu The Legend Continues.... can't you tell that I'm avoiding homework and writing cover letters? See what you have done?