AMEN to the last comment. I pray for the innocent young woman and the family of the deputy.

To those insisting that the underage drinkers (particularly the 18 year old assault victim) be cited, I think you're failing to understand that being company/witness to or victim of sexual assault by an authority figure in a place you believed to be safe is far more "punishing" than the monetary fine could be. I'm most concerned, however, by the remark by Sandman that the assault victim and witness aren't "innocent victims." So...because they were drinking illegally, they should've expected an assault? It seems you mean to imply that the girls hold part of the responsibility for the choices of the police officer, as if their being drunk caused him to be present with underage drinkers, drink with them, and get so drunk as to sexually assault one of those underage drinkers. It's fairly sick of anyone to believe this girl is responsible in any way for the officer assaulting her simply because she was intoxicated, illegal or otherwise.

DiGriz - Holy crap. What a hoot!

(This comment was removed by the site staff, arrested by the Milton Police Department, and cited for underage drinking.)

The deputy knew the young woman and did know that she was not of age to consume alcohol. He was not responding to the call. He was a party participant. He should not have been there at all, or maybe this incident would have been avoided.

I'm confused. Was the cop off-duty or was he responding to a call there? Either way, he should not have touched her. Also, the owner of the house got a ticket but not the illegal drinkers who were all adults. Why was there a trade-off there? Why were the officers who responded leinient in issuing tickets? It's not up to the officers to interpret the law; that's up to the courts.

davvic: Your comment is so true and brought back lots of memories from my teen-age years! And, hannah, I agree with you that the deputy should have left as soon as (and if) he realized underage people were consuming alcohol.

Well don't you think a vast majority of the revelers would have left the party the minute the cops were called? Who knows how many underage kids were there at the height of the party. I know when I was a teenager the first hint of a cop and we were out the back door and into the woods!

Plus I used to live in that area.

The police have been at the house in the past on numerous occasions for different reasons. Neighbors tell me.

The 18 year-old drinking female and the other underage adult drinker should have been cited for their violations as well. Both are technically adults, and neither are innocent victims in this sad affair. And just because the home owners have never been cited before does not mean that this is the first time this underage drinking has been allowed in this house.

How many times has a drunk driver struck another car that was driven by a drunk as well, and both drivers were cited, regardless of who caused the accident. How many times are both parties arrested in a fight, regardless of who was considered most at fault?

Things shake out as they will, and I expect this story is far from over yet.

I think what happened at that party was wrong in every sense of the word, but what the heck - These people have no incentive NOT to go out and do this again when the State of Wisconsin can allow someone (of age) to get a total of 13 DUI's (from a previous article in the jvlle gazette). Kinda makes the seriousness of underage drinking and the consequences of it a moot point.

what they need to do is come up with two different ways to fine underage drinkers, if their is a minor under the age of 18 , then all adults should be ticketed , if they are an adult over the age of 18 , then only the adult underage drinker should be ticketed , adults shouldnt have to supervise and take responsibilty for other adults actions

JnvlMom, I agree with you but the adults who knew there were persons of non-legal drinking age should have stopped the party or left themselves. Especially the police officer who is supposed to uphold ALL laws. Maybe this tragedy never would have happened if these people would have been more responsible.

JnvlMom: No beer for you!!! One year!!!

Carlitos and 7tales, 18-20 year olds ARE adults, not minors. Because they are adults themselves, they should know better.

foth: what do me and my clarinet have to do with this?? lol

All of the adults should be charged with contributing. After all, they are the adults and should know better. The police officer certainly should have known better. As a previous article stated, he did know the accuser.

was the officer charged for being there when the minors were drinking?" he should be! all adults should be charged. DiGriz
I agree with you on your comment

so it appears he wasnt attending an underage drinking party at all as some have implied. im also suprised only the homeowner was cited, i know other parties that they ticketed every adult there when they found an unsupervised underage drinker

A sensible law might not criminalize alcoholic consumption of those between 18 and 21 on private property. I.e. training wheels. Also note that it is legal for a parent to order and serve alcohol to their minor child in a Wisconsin tavern. (Just as long as the kid doesn't play any musical instruments.)

The amazing part, DiGriz, is how all of these laws are enforced with perfectly straight faces.

"All three people were between the ages of 18 and 20."
-
Able to vote, be charged as adults for crimes, and travel to distant lands to be blown to smithereens by IED's, but not able to have a beer first.