LAWRENCE - Police are moving forward with charges against a Hampshire Street mother and a high school senior who they say hosted separate underage drinking parties which Ryan Bourque attended before his death late last month in a car crash.
Police have requested court hearings for Modesta Brito, 40, of 433 Hampshire St., and Geffrey Bergeron, 17, of 49 Amherst St., who they say hosted drinking parties in their homes Nov. 24.
Bergeron, and two other teens who police said provided alcohol for the parties, Brito's son, Edrian Brito Mendez, 17, of 433 Hampshire St., and Jamie Adames, 18, 3 Fulton St., are also facing alcohol procurement and possession charges, police Chief John Romero said yesterday.
Bergeron, Mendez and Adames were all classmates of Bourque's at Central Catholic High School, Romero said.
Police have requested probable cause hearings for all four. At the hearings, which will likely take place in the next month, a clerk magistrate will determine if there's sufficient evidence to move forward with formal charges and court arraignments, Romero said.
Under the state's Social Host Liability Law, those convicted of hosting underage drinking parties, if convicted, face a year in jail and a $2,000 fine.
Police believe Bourque, 17, attended both parties prior to crashing his Oldsmobile on South Broadway at 1 the next morning. Police do not have any evidence that shows Bourque was drinking alcohol at the parties - although witnesses told detectives he had been drinking prior to his death.
Police are still waiting for an accident reconstruction and toxicology report, which will pinpoint Bourque's blood alcohol level. Regardless of the results, Romero said the mother and teens should be charged for hosting the parties and obtaining alcohol.
"It's a moot point. The toxicology results have no bearing on this," Romero said yesterday. "At this point, the investigation is focusing on underage drinking parties. However, we are still trying to determine whether or not alcohol played a part in the accident that caused Bourque's death."
On Nov. 24, police said Bergeron hosted a party in his Amherst Street home while his parents were out to dinner. Five teens split a twelve pack and afterward went out for ice cream and pizza, according to police.
Bergeron's parents did not know he was having a party and are not facing charges, police said.
By 8:30 p.m., after Bergeron received an instant message that said "party tonight call for details," the teens headed to Mendez's apartment at 433 Hampshire St., police said.
Mendez charged the students $5 to enter the apartment and drink beer, police said. Brito was home during the party, watching 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.
Bourque received a ride to and from the Hampshire Street party, police said.
In interviews with police, Brito gave detectives "conflicting statements." She previously told The Eagle-Tribune she knew her son was having a party, but she didn't know alcohol was involved.
However, in an interview with police, Mendez, Brito's son, said after Bourque died, his mother questioned him about the party and whether Bourque attended. Mendez told her that he was there and Brito replied, "You know I'm going to get in trouble," police said.
Bergeron, Mendez and Adames are all accused of providing alcohol for the parties. Police believe Adames asked an adult to purchase the liquor for him at a city store.
Approximately 1,000 people attended Bourque's funeral at St. Patrick's Church. A triplet, Bourque has a sister, Colleen, and a brother, Matthew.
Bourque played varsity basketball and volleyball and was a youth ministry leader at the 300 Hampshire St. school. And for the past two years, he worked weekends as a line cook at Carleen's Coffee Shop on South Broadway.
