More underage drinking arrests

Grand Island Dispatch, February 22, 2008

On the heels of charges against 43 alleged underage drinkers at a Grand Island house party on Feb. 10, comes the news of nine more ticketed for the same violation at a separate party.

Late Saturday night, deputies from the Erie County Sheriffs Department were called to a house party on East River Road. Two deputies responded to a complaint of a loud party where they encountered nine underage individuals consuming alcohol. Appearance tickets were issued to offenders, and they were scheduled to appear in court on March 5. In addition, the host of the party was charged with unlawful dealing with a child for providing the alcoholic beverages.

On Wednesday in Grand Island Town Court, most of the 43 individuals ticketed for violating the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act on Feb. 10 were arraigned by Judge Sybil E. Kennedy. Kennedy read the charges, at which time those ticketed entered a plea. Several who were out of town had their cases adjourned until a later date. A handful pleaded guilty and received a conditional discharge from Kennedy. The judge fined them $50 and ordered them to perform 20 hours of community service.

According to the court’s office, those who pleaded not guilty will return to Grand Island Town Court on March 5 at 5 p.m. to meet with the town prosecutor.