LAWRENCE - A Hampshire Street mother and three teen-aged boys will all face criminal charges for their alleged roles in underage drinking parties the night before the death of Central Catholic High School senior Ryan Bourque last November.

"Complaints have been issued against all parties," said Jack Gallagher, an assistant Lawrence District Court clerk who held hearings on the pending criminal charges against Modesta Brito, 43, her son Edrian Brito Mendez, 17, Geffrey Bergeron, 17, and Jamie Adames, 18.

Bourque, 17, was killed in a car crash on South Broadway at 1 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 25. Bergeron, Mendez Brito and Adames were his classmates at the private Lawrence high school.

In the hours before his death, police believe Bourque attended parties hosted by Brito, of 433 Hampshire St., and Bergeron, of 49 Amherst St.

Police wanted to charge both Brito and Bergeron under the state's Social Host Liability Law, which carries a fine of $2,000 and a year in jail for those convicted of hosting an underage drinking party.

However, just Brito will be charged with hosting an underage drinking party, Police chief John Romero said yesterday.

Meanwhile, Bergeron, Mendez and Adames, of 3 Fulton St., are facing alcohol procurement and possession charges.

Formal arraignments for all four parties likely won't happen for at least a month, due to staff shortages and a backlog of cases at Lawrence District Court, Gallagher said.

Romero described Gallagher's decision as "appropriate."

"Underage drinking in a major problem in Massachusetts that needs to be addressed," he said.

Michael Bourque, Ryan's uncle and the family spokesman, declined comment yesterday.

Detectives allege that on Nov. 24, Bergeron hosted a party in his Amherst Street home while his parents were out to dinner. Five teens split a 12-pack of beer and later went out for ice cream and pizza, police said.

The teens later went to Brito and Mendez's apartment at 433 Hampshire St. where Mendez charged $5 for students to enter the apartment and drink beer. Police said Brito was home, watching the smaller children who were also in the apartment. The teens interviewed by police said Brito was aware they were drinking and checked on them during the night at various times.

Bergeron, Mendez and Adames are all accused of providing alcohol for the parties. Adames asked an adult to purchase the liquor at a city store, police said.

It remains unclear if Bourque had alcohol in his system when he crashed. Romero said he was not officially notified of toxicology testing done. Such testing would pinpoint whether Bourque had alcohol in his system when he crashed.

Karen Dawley, a spokesperson for District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett, said she could not release the toxicology results due to medical privacy laws and the pending criminal cases.

Staff reporter Jill Harmacinski can be reached at (978) 946-2209 or by email at JHarmacinski@eagletribune.com.