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Saturday, December 15, 2007

Ind. Decisions - "Ex-Colts QB Trudeau, wife to pay $5,000 fine in teen party case"

Robert Annis reports today in the Indianapolis Star:

Former Colts quarterback Jack Trudeau avoided a prosecutor’s blitz and a possible criminal conviction Friday by striking a deal.

Trudeau and his wife each will pay a $2,500 fine. As part of the deal, they admitted to “knowingly or intentionally encouraging, aiding or inducing a minor to unlawfully possess an alcoholic beverage,” an infraction punishable by a maximum $10,000 fine.

Lisa Trudeau’s attorney, John Tompkins, said he and Boone County Prosecutor Todd Meyer were “looking for a fair outcome, not one that was overly punitive or dismissive. Diversion would have been nice; that would have been a complete dismissal, but no criminal conviction is a very good position to be in.” * * *

The charges against the couple stemmed from a June 2 graduation party at the Trudeaus’ Timberwolf Lane home for daughter Danielle Trudeau and other Park Tudor graduates. Police said that 35 to 50 teenagers attended the party.

After a search warrant was obtained, people were given breath tests. Eleven teenage partygoers were arrested on charges of underage drinking or possession of alcohol. Five of them found hiding in the woods around the home also were charged with resisting law enforcement. One person younger than 18 tested positive for alcohol and was turned over to parents.

The Trudeaus first were charged with two misdemeanor counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and furnishing alcohol to a minor. Jack Trudeau also was charged with a felony, obstructing justice.

Jack Trudeau’s misdemeanor charges were changed last month to aiding, inducing or causing contributing to the delinquency of a minor; aiding, inducing or causing furnishing alcohol to a minor; and aiding, inducing or causing illegal possession or consumption of alcohol by a minor.

See related ILB entries under the heading "Justice Is Unequal for Parents Who Host Teen Drinking Parties" from July 4, 2007 and Dec. 7, 2007.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on December 15, 2007 02:34 PM
Posted to Ind. Trial Ct. Decisions