A Middletown man has been slapped with nearly 50 charges related to allegedly facilitating underage drinking at an early December party.
John Ward, 52, was charged via summons with 23 charges of corruption of minors and 23 charges of furnishing liquor to minors.
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Ward, according to authorities, was home on the night of December 3 when Middletown police were called to his residence on Middle Avenue for an underage drinking party that was attended by a “large group of juveniles.”
When responding officers arrived the Middle Avenue home for reports of the party, an officer heard someone exclaim from inside that the police had arrived. The officer then saw about 20 juveniles run from the house, according to court papers.
In a room towards the back of the house, officers found about 20 hiding juveniles, most of whom refused to talk about the party. Officers also found two juvenile boys who appeared to be intoxicated were found hiding in a closet, police said.
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An officer reported noticing liquor bottles in the kitchen and the smell of marijuana. In addition, two glass bongs were found at the party, court papers stated.
One of the minors picked up by police allegedly told them the underage drinking party was a thrown for him by Ward’s daughter, police said.
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Officers eventually located Ward on the upper level of the home, police said.
Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.
