PARTYING JUVENILES GET WORK DETAILS

Community Service Jobs Assigned For Underage Drinking At Teacher's Home

HUNTINGTON -- Thirteen teens were ordered to serve varying hours of
community service Thursday for underage possession and consumption of
alcohol at a Halloween party at a Cabell County schoolteacher's home.

The teens, who range in age from 14 to 17, sat in the crowded courtroom of
Cabell County Circuit Judge Al Ferguson with their parents while juvenile
referee Michael Woelfel explained the misdemeanor charges to them. The
proceedings were moved to Ferguson's courtroom because Woelfel's courtroom
was too small to hold everyone.

Two additional teens younger than 18 were charged, but did not appear in
court Thursday because of difficulties in notifying them, according to Sgt.
Darrell A. Booth of the Huntington Police Department. They will appear in
juvenile court at a later date.

During the hearing, the teens and their parents watched a video taken
during the Oct. 26 party. The video showed some teens drinking alcohol,
smoking what appeared to be marijuana and exhibiting poor behavior, Booth said.

Because the case involved juveniles, Ferguson's courtroom was locked and
paper blocked out the windows as police showed parents the video. However,
the sound of teens whooping, cheering and hollering on the video could be
heard in the courthouse hallway.

"Some parents became so upset they had to excuse themselves from the
proceedings," Booth said.

Each case was reviewed individually, according to Booth. All of the teens,
whose names were not released by authorities, were then ordered to serve
varying hours of undisclosed community service.

"This matter was treated very seriously," said Cabell County Prosecutor
Chris Chiles. "Everyone involved will be doing a significant number of
hours of community service."

The charges stem from a Halloween party at the home of Martha Fillinger,
44, of 84 Sycamore St., a Huntington High School science teacher and
cheerleading sponsor.

Fillinger was arrested Nov. 6 and charged with contributing to the
delinquency of a minor, a misdemeanor. She was suspended without pay that
same day by Superintendent David Roach.

Three 18-year-olds also have been charged with underage possession and
consumption of alcohol. One 18-year-old male turned himself in. The other
two teens have not.

Fillinger's court hearing has been scheduled for Jan. 14.