PARENT WILL GET A TICKET FOR ALLOWING SON'S PARTY

Middle Schoolers At Bash Videotaped Drinking, Using Pot, Fondling Each Other

Waukesha - Despite arguing that he is being punished for his son's sins, a
father will be ticketed for failing to prevent a party in which 13- and
14-year-olds were videotaped drinking, smoking marijuana and fondling each
other, the district attorney said Wednesday.

Despite the father's protests that he was unaware of the shenanigans going
on in his home, District Attorney Paul Bucher said that evidence suggested
he "knew that alcohol was being consumed and he failed to take action to
prevent the consumption of alcohol."

Dave Witkowski, an investigator for Bucher's office, said that some of the
party-goers told authorities the father could not help but know the nature
of what was happening at the bash.

"I got opinions from kids that he (the father) had to know, that they were
surprised that he didn't know," Witkowski said. "They said, 'He had to know
we were smoking.' "

Teens said that father's Town of Eagle barn in which they partied reeked of
cigarette and marijuana smoke, and one teen brought a large amount of beer
into the party in a backpack, Witkowski said.

The father, whose is not being named to protect the identity of his son,
and his attorney did not return phone calls Wednesday seeking comment.

However, the father recently said he knew about the party and stayed home
to supervise it, even joining in a pool tournament at one point with the
teens.

He said he took steps to ensure that the party-goers had no alcohol or
drugs and only learned after the party that some of the children had
smuggled in beer and marijuana.

"I did everything short of search them just to make sure," he said. He said
he locked up his own beer in the trunk of his car and told his son that he
would be tested for drugs two days after the Saturday night party.

The father has said he felt betrayed by his son and his friends. But he has
admitted no responsibility for the incident.

If found guilty of the non-criminal ticket for permitting an underage
drinking party, the man would face a maximum penalty of a $500 forfeiture.

The teens videotaped the party, with the intent of using the tape to cheer
up a 13-year-old girl who was in the hospital with a spinal injury suffered
in a drunken driving accident.

Six boys and one girl caught on video with beer or marijuana will be named
in juvenile delinquency petitions for underage drinking and possession of
drug paraphernalia, Bucher said.

Police say the man was warned by police that his 13-year-old son was
planning a drinking party.

Juvenile Penalties

Bucher said he hoped that by being referred to Juvenile Court, the
Palmyra-Eagle Middle School students would get counseling from social workers.

"When you're doing this at 12 or 13 years old, you may have deeper-seated
problems," Bucher said.

The children could be placed on juvenile supervision or be ordered to pay
forfeitures of between $100 and $200.

Bucher also said that his office had identified another man suspected of
supplying beer to the teens.

"We'll be pursuing that and issuing citations if possible," Bucher said.

Palmyra Police Chief Scott Neubauer said he had no sympathy for the father.

"The father in this case obviously was notified by law enforcement that the
party was going to occur," Neubauer said. "He knew it was going to occur
and did nothing to stop it. We're not talking about children close to the
age of consuming alcohol legally. We're talking about children in middle
school. I would like to see all the children get involved in a drug and
alcohol program."

The party came to the attention of police Dec. 10, when Palmyra-Eagle
Middle School officials first heard rumors of the bash, originally
scheduled for that night. School officials alerted Neubauer, who passed the
word to Village of Eagle Police Chief Hans Lux.

Lux informed the Sheriff's Department, which patrols the town, but also
told the father that his son was planning to host a party with drinking and
urged him to make sure it was canceled.

Despite the warning, the party was rescheduled and held Dec. 11.

Two days later, another parent learned of the tape's existence and
retrieved it from a school locker. That parent turned the tape over to
school officials, who passed it on to police.

During the course of their investigation, Palmyra police learned of the
theft of six mouthpieces from the middle school band room. Neubauer said
two youths who had attended the party told police they stole the
mouthpieces to use them as marijuana pipes.

Those boys will be ticketed for the theft, Neubauer said.

Meanwhile, he said, police are working with school officials to help the
youths who attended the party.

"We are getting them involved in programs in the school," Neubauer said.
"We certainly have some concerns based on the age."