By MARK TODD - Staff Writer - mtodd@starbeacon.com
CONNEAUT — A preliminary hearing for a Conneaut woman facing a felony charge in connection with an underage drinking party in her home, was continued at the request of her attorney.
A hearing for Irene Metcalf, 46, 405 Middle Road, will be rescheduled, according to a Conneaut Municipal Court spokeswoman. Metcalf’s court-appointed attorney, Malcolm S. Douglas, requested the continuance.
Metcalf faces a felony charge of tampering with evidence, along with misdemeanor charges of obstruction of justice and furnishing alcohol to underage persons. Metcalf faces a maximum five-year prison sentence on the felony and nearly another year on the two misdemeanors combined.
Police broke up the party early on the morning of Sept. 27. As police knocked on the door, Metcalf could be observed walking from room to room, carrying beer cans and cups, officers said in a report.
Thirteen juveniles were given breath-alcohol tests at the scene, and an unknown number were cited into Juvenile Court. Five young adults also were cited for underage consumption of alcohol. They had their hearings Tuesday morning before Judge Thomas Harris, and all pleaded guilty, a spokeswoman said.
The five are: Joseph Hewel, 19, of Wattsburg, Pa.; Marcus Distelrath, 18, 235 Reig Ave., Conneaut; William Severino, 18, 4102 Denise Drive, Ashtabula; Jared Moisio, 18, 405 Middle Road, Conneaut; and Peter Garza, 18, 427 Jackson St., Conneaut.
All were sentenced to perform 80 hours of community service, a court spokeswoman said.
