Massachusetts underage drinking charges result from search of house party in Quincy
Two 18-year-olds have been arrested after police found two dozen teenagers partying at a Forbes Hill Road home strewn with beer and vodka bottles, the Patriot Ledger reported.
Chandler Webb and Paul Fiorenza face charges of being minors in possession of alcohol and providing alcohol to minors. A third person was arrested for allegedly breaking into the home while the teens were under arrest. Depending on the actions taken by law enforcement, a Quincy criminal defense lawyer may be able to get these charges reduced or dismissed. Particularly in cases involving minors, police officers may enter a home in search of illegal activity without proper cause for doing so. Cases involving illegal search and seizure in Massachusetts may result in a reduction or dismissal of the charges.
As a homeowner or resident, you have every right to speak with an officer on the front step, with the door closed, or ask that they remain outside the home. It is not necessary to be rude, but neither is it necessary to give police free rein to wander through your home in search of underage drinkers or other infractions. Often, what starts as a complaint about noise or other nuisances, leads to criminal charges after officers arrive and are allowed to search through a home.
In this case, officers responded to the Forbes Hill Road hope shortly before 11 p.m. Thursday, after receiving a complaint about teenagers drinking and a large party. Police say they had been at the home on similar calls in recent weeks, including July 4.
Responding officers placed the two teens under arrest and waited while other teens called parents for a ride home. The two teens told police that they had inherited the house from their grandparents and that they lived their alone.
Once released from custody, the two returned home to find that the home had been burglarized. Missing items include two laptop computers, a cell phone, video games and sunglasses.
Adam Kenney 20, of Lynn, was arrested and faces a charge of breaking and entering, a Massachusetts larceny charge and trespassing.
All three defendants will face the charges in Quincy District Court.
