Peter Lalich, the most experienced quarterback returning to Virginia's football team this coming season, was in Charlottesville General District Court on Monday after being charged with unlawful alcoholic purchase and possession, a misdemeanor.

The case against Lalich was continued until July 21, 2009, at which point charges will be dropped if there is no recurrence. Court costs of $71 will be due on that date.

Lalich received a summons on the alcohol charge July 13, just over a month after he was found guilty in absentia in Charlottesville General District Court for failure to obey a traffic signal.

At the time he was stopped, Lalich did not have a driver's license or registration in his possession. He was fined $100 and $61 in court costs.

The traffic conviction was the second of 2008 for Lalich, found guilty in Albemarle County General District Court of failure to obey a highway sign.

On Monday at the ACC's Football Kickoff, UVa head coach Al Groh was asked if he has seen any maturation in Lalich, who was the backup to Jameel Sewell in 2008.

Sewell is serving a one-year academic suspension.

Groh said Lalich was "progressing," although Virginia's media guide lists him as the No. 3 quarterback behind Scott Deke and Marc Verica.

"It isn't full-term," Groh said. "There was nobody in our operation, in this short time frame, that expected it to be full-term. It hasn't been for any of his predecessors.

"Almost all of the quarterbacks who have preceded him in the last 15 years have not even been in a game at this point. That includes some very good quarterbacks. There's a lot of growth and development ahead of him before he turns into the quarterback that we can hope that he can be."

Clint Sintim, who joined Groh at the ACC Football Kickoff, said he and fellow co-captain John Phillips considered Lalich to be "eclectic."

"I think they're talking about what's on his iPod more than his throwing ability," Groh said.

Said Sintim: "I think you've got to keep in mind that we're still dealing with an 18- or 19-year-old."

Sports information director Jim Daves said Wednesday that Groh would not have any comment on Lalich's latest charge and that any disciplinary action will be handled internally.