Parents Get 2 Years In Jail For Buying Beer For 16 Year Old And Friends (Everyone Spent The Night)

[matcom]

<snip>

CHARLOTTESVILLE -- Ryan Kenty, 20, and his brother Brandon, still a sophomore in high school, plan to drive their mother to jail Monday morning before heading back to her rented apartment to move the rest of her belongings into storage.

Their mom, Elisa Kelly, and her ex-husband, George Robinson, are paying the price for hosting Ryan's 16th birthday party -- more than two years in jail each. Ryan had asked his mother to buy his friends some beer and wine, as long as they all spent the night.

"No one left the party," said Kelly, 42, who collected car keys that night almost five years ago to prevent anyone from leaving. "No one was hurt. No one drove anywhere. I really don't think I deserve to go to jail for this long."

But Albemarle County Commonwealth's Attorney James L. Camblos III, who prosecuted the parents, said it was the worst case of underage drinking he has had to deal with in 15 years. "Not only were they serving alcohol to 15- and 16-year-olds, they misled parents who called to ask about alcohol, and they tried to get the kids to cover it up after police got there," Camblos said.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/08/AR2007060802795.html

[Midlodemocrat]

1. Virginia.

:eyes:

And, two years is a bit much, but they should do some time, IMHO.

[matcom]

3. I disagree

They were totally being responsible. The ONLY thing they did wrong IMHO was not notify the other parents.

When I turned 16 my parents told me that if I wanted to drink to do it in their home instead of out on the road or in some parking lot somewhere. Of course I didn't ONLY drink in their home :hide: but it was a lot safer to do so there than the other places I did.

Kids are going to drink. MUCH better if the parents are there to supervise and take car keys away.

[Midlodemocrat]

4. I totally agree with that.

But, misleading the other parents was flat out wrong. I would be supremely pissed if someone took it upon themselves to offer either of my teens alcohol and lied to me about it.

[matcom]

5. I have NEVER mislead you about giving TM alcohol

:D

now the ecstasy is a different story :D

[Midlodemocrat]

7. I told you. TM is a GOOD girl.

BoyMidlo is a different story. :eyes:

[THUNDER HANDS]

2. wow, 16, huh?

What's that, a junior in high school?

Two years is absurd.

[MadHound]

6. Geez, I'm glad I'm not a teenager now

I went through my teens back in the seventies, before the hyperventilating nanny statism of MADD and other such organizations became the norm, and crystalized into over the top legal rulings.

I started having a glass of wine with special dinners, Christmas, Thanksgiving, when I was twelve. I was good to have a beer or two at family gatherings or such events when I was in high school. And gee, did I wind up an alcoholic? No, in fact my average alcohol consumption is about one drink a month, if that.

But MADD and these other "for the children" type organizations came in and took a good cause and went right over the top with it. No, I wouldn't serve alcohol at a birthday party, but neither do I think that the mom deserves a two year sentence, especially since there are violent criminals who receive probation for violent crimes.

[Midlodemocrat]

9. My whole issue with teenage drinking is that they don't do it

in moderation like you described. It's all or nothing.

And, although I think this is probably an unpopular comment, I blame the ecucation system in part. There is such a rush to get kids to 'be responsible, grow up, do it yourself', that they don't really get to be kids.

I see little kindergarten children being chastised for not having a pencil ready. It bothers me. I think we're (as a society) pushing them too hard at too young of an age.

JMHO. YMMV.

[gollygee]

8. Two years is too much

They should be fined for sure because they misled the other parents and that was wrong, and it is illegal to furnish alcohol to minors. But it isn't a two-year type of offense at all IMO, especially since they were making sure no one was going to be driving.

[Katina]

10. Two years is too much

but hosting a drinking party for 15-16 years old is over the top IMO, especially when you don't have permission from the other parents. I admit to hosting a similar party for my own kid, but the kids were in their second year of college (19-20 year olds), which makes a big difference and I told every one of the parents that I was serving beer & wine and taking all the car keys. We told them if they didn't want their kids there, we would not allow them in. It was very simple, very clear cut and you know what, everyone came and everyone behaved.

[Downtown Hound]

11. That is way too excessive

This is a sign of puritanism gone way too far.