Eleven days shy of his 21st birthday, a Watertown man showed a city police officer his driver’s license, indicating he was a 30-year-old, police said.

Justin E. Benjamin’s birth year had been altered on the license, from 1991 to 1981, according to police.

Mr. Benjamin, now 21, of 17481 Route 11, Lot 41, was charged Thursday morning with second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, a felony. He was awaiting arraignment in City Court.

His encounter with police occurred on the evening of Aug. 20 in the 200 block of Thompson Boulevard. Although an officer detected the license discrepancy that night, the felony count was delayed for investigation, police said.

In the meantime, Mr. Benjamin was cited with having an open alcoholic beverage container and underage possession of an alcoholic beverage. He pleaded guilty in City Court to the latter charge Sept. 6, was fined $50, and was granted a dismissal on the open-container count.

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