Local Parents Paying High Price For Child's Party

Of coarse no one in this case is paying a higher price than the two dead students and their families who were the focus of this nationally talked about case and prosecution. They were killed after leaving the home of a friend literally blocks away from my home after becoming drunk at a party that occurred either under the noses or in plain view of these parents who were convicted over the weekend, depending on who's version you believe..

This is sad story all around that will hopefully serve as a lesson to all those liberal parents out there trying a little too hard to be their kid friends and the coolest Mom's and Dad's instead of their life teachers, protectors and overseers.

Back in my high school days in the early eighties parents allowing parties in their homes hosted by their kids happened all the time with and without the parents blessings, nearly every weekend including the same neighborhood this one took place as a matter of fact. Fortunately then for all involved no one was ever killed leaving any of these events in our school's social circle, including myself.

But today is a different time and with each generation kids want to grow up quicker and quicker and these situations won't end with the jailing of these two parents I'm afraid. But someone has to pay the piper for these students tragic deaths I guess, and they are the chosen ones sadly for they and their own kid who not only lost two friends but now two parents possibly for a time..

However, at least they and their child are still alive where the other ones aren't.

One thing missing here to me in this whole story is the fact that those two teens that were killed chose to get drunk that night and should share some responsibility for their actions as well, as I heard no testimony at the trial that the parents forced these 2 dead teens to drink that night.

Not to mention they were both 18 years old which in Illinois is an adult but not legal to drink, not 12 years old, so this conviction of these parents in this case is a little iffy in my opinion, but has a purpose as well that should be heeded by others in the future as a result.

Hutsells 'weak link in the parenting chain

News Sun :: News: "Lake County's most notorious party hosts have been found guilty of violating the state Liquor Control Act, nine months after two teenage boys died in a car accident at the end of their driveway during a drinking party in their home.

Jeffrey Hutsell, 53, and Sara Hutsell, 52, were found guilty Saturday of three of the four charges related to the drinking party their son held in the basement of their Deerfield home last Oct. 13.

The Hutsells stood and stared motionless in Lake County Circuit Court as the verdict on each count was read after nearly seven hours of jury deliberations."

• Use of residence in violation of the Liquor Control Act: guilty.

• Endangering the life of health of a minor: guilty.

• Attempt to obstruct justice by providing police with false information: guilty.

• Obstruction of justice by tampering with evidence: not guilty

The convictions underscore the importance of parents being more responsible for what happens in their home, said Lake County State's Attorney Michael Waller.

"You cannot host underage drinking parties in your home," Waller said. "It's a difficult issue, (but) we're very pleased with the verdicts."

On Oct. 13, 2006 -- the night of Deerfield High School's homecoming football game -- the Hutsells' 18-year-old son, Jonathan, threw a party that prosecutors say was attended by no fewer than 29 teenagers. A number of them have admitted to drinking at the time, but the Hutsells maintained throughout the trial that they were unaware that minors were consuming alcohol. The Hutsells were upstairs during the party and watched a baseball game. continued....

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