<p>A young man from our school district is an absolute top student--and was admitted to a top college. Think HYSM.</p>
<p>He was cited for several crimes at a party a couple of weeks after graduation. He is alleged to have knowingly providing the place for under age alcohol consumption to take place (a "Social Host Ordinance" violation). He was also cited for possession of paraphernalia, possession of a small amount of marijuana, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor and for underage consumption of alcohol.</p>
<p>Police attention was brought to his party was because a 16 or 17 year old girl passed out, was unresponsive and brought to the parents' home--and then the ER. The parents called the police.</p>
<p>I have no dog in this fight. I am only aware of this young man because of his stellar academic reputation.</p>
<p>My question is this: What happens now? In other words, how badly did he screw up?</p>
<p>My understanding is that the college might not necessarily find out. There is a question about crimes on the college application but that has already taken place. From reading lots of threads like this (no direct experience with my kids) he will probably end up on probation. If this were my kid I would hire a lawyer. I would also think hard about spending the time and money to send him to a top college.<br>
If I were the parent of the girl I would do more than call the police. I would go after this situation like a dog with a bone. They took an unresponsive person home rather than IMMEDIATELY calling 911? Geeze. Bad decision. Luckily the outcome was okay but that isn’t always the case.</p>
<p>CROSS POSTED With EBEE–I have heard of these parties occuring in my town as well. I think these types of things happen far more than alot of people realize however, I think what is different here is that he made sure the girl got home and was being taken care of. He might have screwed up but he knowingly risked his own reputation to insure that this girl was O.K. and for that he showed that his values are not screwed up. I don’t know what a school would do for a underage drinking violation (happens alot) but the marijuana and paraphenalia might be more of an issue depending on what state he lives in. You said he was cited, did you mean to say he was arrested?</p>
<p>Her home could have been one street away. At least they did something to make sure she would be cared for. It could have been awful and the young man was very fortunate as is the girl. I am sure he will think long and hard in the future before doing anything like this again. Think back to when you were a kid…did you ever do something that you just shake your head and say “what was I thinking?” It was a stupid thing to do and the girl could have died but this young man was stupid not heartless.</p>
<p>Here’s another example of when kids waited to do the right thing, and it turned out worse. I can’t link to the story because it’s archived, but I copy and pasted the pertinent parts:</p>
<p>Richards, a former student at Vandegrift High School, told investigators that Amanda was “passed out” when he and other friends found her in the street during the party in the 3200 block of Magenta Sky Trail, the affidavit said.</p>
<p>“The minors in attendance at the party did not take immediate action to get the necessary help for Amanda believing that she was just ‘drunk,’” the document said.</p>
<p>Amanda was taken to another house in Steiner Ranch, where an adult determined she needed medical aid and called an ambulance, the affidavit said. Amanda had been in a coma until she was taken off life support May 9.</p>
<p>Minors at the party said Amanda was drinking shots of tequila and was “highly intoxicated,” according to the affidavit. Amanda’s twin sister was also at the party and told investigators she decided it was time to leave and take Amanda to sober up, the affidavit said.</p>
<p>“Before they were able to leave, Amanda received her head injury and the subjects were afraid to call for help,” according to the affidavit.</p>
<p>Richards did not have permission to host the party from his mother, who was in Houston at the time, the affidavit said. She said she didn’t know where the alcohol came from, the affidavit said.</p>
We are a little short on facts here (How big was the party? Did he supply the alcohol or did people bring their own? Was the girl invited or did she crash the party? Did he know she was there before she passed out? Did he even know she passed out?), but IMO the parents of the girl would be better off focusing on the fact that their daughter at 16 or 17 binge-drank enough to pass out, and get her help.</p>
<p>Okay, fair enough. I see your point. If I were the parent of the boy I would still think long and hard. I would want to know if this was an isolated incident or if I was sending a chronic partier off to an expensive education.</p>
<p>This sounds pretty common to me. It should not have any effect on his college matriculation. He will most likely get deferred adjudication/probation.</p>
<p>OP, here. Yes we are little short of the facts, and I only know what I know from a newspaper article and from rumors from friends of the kids involved. </p>
<p>I do know that the girl was brought to the parents house by another boy who attended the party–not the one charged with the crimes. Yes, it would have been better to dial 911, but at least they didn’t abandon her to die, choking on her own vomit. I don’t know if that boy was charged, his name was not in the paper as being charged. But maybe he was also <18, and thus his name would not be revealed.</p>
<p>I think that these charges could act as a deterrent to other kids and their parents for allowing underage alcohol consumption on their property.</p>
<p>I do know that what the boy with the charges did is hardly uncommon. And I would hate to see his limitless opportunities killed. But on the other hand, how does one gain some kind compliance to laws regarding hosting underage alcohol parties, under age consumption etc, if there are no consequences? </p>
<p>My agenda in the original post was not so much to dissect the specifics of this incident–although those responses are interesting and worthwhile. I am more interested in learning if the college he will be attending will find out about the charges. Is he required to tell them? What are they likely to do if they do find out?</p>
<p>Some colleges do require notification of charges. I think that UVa changed its policy after the Yeardley Love murder. Her attacker had been in trouble before.</p>
<p>“I have no dog in this fight. I am only aware of this young man because of his stellar academic reputation.”</p>
<p>“My question is this: What happens now? In other words, how badly did he screw up?”</p>
<p>I suspect that “what happens next” will depend upon how many people post online like you did, tweet the information, other media and news sources spread and contort what really did or didn’t happen.</p>
<p>If you have “no dog in this fight”, shut up about it.</p>
Is this kid over 18? I assumed the ‘social host’ was targeted at adults, who usually end up to be parents, who provide the party location and often the alcohol to the minors. I wouldn’t have expected a minor could be charged with it but if he’s 18 then it makes sense.</p>
<p>MomofWildChild is correct, what happens will depend on the lawyers and the judge. Everything could be determined before he leaves for college. The most likely scenario is the lawyer will attempt, if possible in that jurisdiction, to get deferred adjudication and get it on the docket well in advance of August or plead to MIP or the pot charge and ask to drop any other charges…at least that is what happens in our neck of the woods where hosting and providing are far more severe than MIP or Pot possession and this type of thing happens just about every year where some kid (Innate intelligence often has nothing to do with it) has a party. </p>
<p>Here’s an interesting op-ed from Higher Ed:</p>
<p>ucla dad, in Michigan you can be charged with hosting even if you are 16 or 17. 16 is generally considered an adult for MIPs, Pot, hosting, and a bunch of other misdemeanors. The laws vary wildly from location to location and at what age is a legal adult with regard to charges which is what the Higher Ed op-ed is about.</p>
<p>Sending kids off to college is not going to remove them from the temptation of alcohol and parties. Not sending kids off to college is not going to remove them from the temptation of alcohol and parties. The thrill does wear off as they get older fortunately. Keeping them “broke” in college does tend to help unless they are industrious and go get a job. But then they are working and studying and going to classes and don’t have as much time to party (said with tongue firmly in cheek).</p>
<p>Yeah- I like that theory… Mine was industrious and got a job- a GOOD job! Fortunately, that good job helped get a good post-college job! The partying still happened, though!</p>
<p>Yeah, my #1 graduated in May…and is employed…because of his college jobs…because we didn’t give him any spending money…because he was such a PIA in high school.</p>