Buster

In Plea Deal, Fake ID Charge Dropped Against Collegian Caught Carrying "McLovin" License

In a plea deal, prosecutors dropped a phony ID charge filed against a tipsy Iowa collegian who was carrying a “fake Hawaii ID with the name ‘McLovin,’” in his wallet, court records show.

Daniel Burleson, 20, was arrested in October during a 12:30 AM bar check at an Iowa City nightspot. The underage University of Iowa student, who smelled of booze and had slurred speech and bloodshot eyes, was escorted from the Airliner Bar and busted for public intoxication, being a minor in possession of alcohol, and being in a bar while underage.

Burleson, seen at right, was hit with another charge when officers spotted what they described as the defendant’s “fake Hawaii ID with the name ‘McLovin’” and a June 1981 date of birth. According to an arrest report, Burleson told cops he purchased the ID “off of Amazon.”

While the “McLovin” ID is a well known gag from “Superbad,” the 2007 comedy starring Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, and Seth Rogen, Iowa City cops apparently were not in on the joke. After actually contacting police dispatch--which “ran a query of the ID which returned no results”--cops cited Burleson for “possession of fictitious license, ID card or form.”

After Burleson’s arrest was first reported in these pages, a bemused Rogen--who co-wrote “Superbad”--tweeted, “My work here is done.”

During a recent court appearance, Burleson pleaded guilty to alcohol possession and being in a bar while underage. He was fined $265 by a District Court judge who dismissed the phony ID and public intoxication counts lodged against the business major.

In a related development, Burleson turns 21 tomorrow. As for “McLovin,” he purportedly celebrated his 38th birthday on June 3.