By MARK TODD - Staff Writer - mtodd@starbeacon.com
CONNEAUT — A preliminary hearing for a Conneaut woman charged with a felony in connection with an underage drinking party held in her home, has been continued until later this month.
Irene Metcalf, 46, 405 Middle Road, was granted a delay to study a deal reportedly offered by the city prosecutor, officials said. Her hearing was continued to 4 p.m. Nov. 17, a Conneaut Municipal Court spokesperson said.
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. At issue is a Sept. 27 party attended by some 13 juveniles and five underage adults. Police were summoned and, as they knocked on doors, watched Metcalf walking from room to room, carrying beer cans and cups, officers said in a report.
Metcalf told authorities she was asleep upstairs.
An unknown number of the juveniles were cited into Juvenile Court. The five young adults pleaded guilty to underage-drinking charges and were sentenced to perform 80 hours of community service.
