Police said Thursday that six people have been arrested following the wild party last month at the vacant upstate New York home of ex-NFL player Brian Holloway – a party held without his consent. The six are facing charges that range from criminal trespass and endangering the welfare of a child to burglary and criminal mischief, among others. Over two hundred teens and young adults were said to have partied at the house, which Holloway has alleged was vandalized by the incident.
Authorities say they expect many more to be charged.
From NEWS10 ABC:
Police in Rensselaer County tell NEWS10 ABC that six people between the ages of 17 and 21-years old are facing charges Thursday for their involvement in the Labor Day weekend house party and vandalism at a former NFL player’s Stephentown home.But, these six are not alone – not by a long shot.Police say the total number of those expected to be arrested will end up being in the hundreds – a record number for one single case in Rensselaer County.Investigators say between 100 and 200 people will face charges ranging from felony Burglary and Grand Larceny to misdemeanors, such as Criminal Trespass or Endangering the Welfare of a Minor.Police say the six “key players,” those who hosted and supplied the alcohol and drugs at the August 31st party, were arrested on Thursday and will be brought into Stephentown Court one by one to face charges.
A full list of those arrested and the charges they are facing can be found at NEWS10 ABC.
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The story sparked a media firestorm after Holloway reposted tweets and photos that party attendees had themselves posted to social media. He set up the website HelpMeSave300 and companion Facebook page, urging the teens to come forward and take responsibility by coming to the property to help clean up. After several weekend events, only four who claim to have been at the party showed up.
Some parents were angry with Holloway for his response and worried that the postings might impact their children’s future college and employment prospects.
The Times Union noted that at least one parent feared coming forward because of media backlash.
A mother of one of the teens at the party, who asked her name and her son’s name not be used for fear of repercussions, said before the arrests that she wouldn’t want to subject her son to the media circus created by the incident by coming forward.She also objected to suggestions that she hasn’t disciplined her teen.”I’ll punish him as I see fit,” she said. “I don’t need to punish him as Brian Holloway sees fit.”Many of the teens named by Holloway on his website — he later took the names down — or visible in photos have been targeted for abuse by Internet vigilantes.”He’s a responsible kid,” the mom said. “He’s not a horrible, rotten teenage delinquent.”[…] “I don’t think any parent could say that they were in the right by being there,” she said. “But the direction this is going is completely out of control.”
Since the story has gained more public attention, some have raised questions about Holloway’s claims and motives. But the former NFL player has maintained in public statements that no matter the circumstances, the party-goers caused damage to and trespassed upon his property.
The announcement of arrests came shortly after Holloway signed paperwork related to the incident; he posted two signed affidavits to the HelpMeSave300 website. One was a statement alleging trespass upon his property and confirming that he did not give permission for entry into the home. The second was a statement alleging stolen property, pertaining to a granite eagle statue that Holloway has said was the headstone for a grandson who died at birth. (It should be noted that, according to a posting on the same website, the statue was returned shortly after the incident).
Holloway said he decided to move forward with the complaints after he gave party-goers the opportunity to come forward on their own, but only a handful chose to do so. He said that if he didn’t take a stand against those who failed to come forward, “then I would be just as guilty as the students and the parents that absolutely failed in stepping forward and being accountable,” according to the Times Union.
Authorities said that it’s taken some time to investigate the matter, as they’ve had to interview hundreds of teens and their parents. They also said that social media played a major role in identifying some of those to be charged. Thursday’s arrests marked the first action in the case.
Holloway had an emotional encounter outside the courthouse with one of the parents of a teen he knew very well, according to NEWS10 ABC (and can be seen in the video above).
Brian Holloway appeared in court himself on Thursday, telling NEWS10 ABC he wanted to see for himself the arrests were happening.One mother of a teen arrested gave a tearful apology to Holloway outside of court. They say they knew each other well, and Holloway says the male arrested was a frequent visitor to the home, even living there at times.”Today’s arrests send a strong message to the youth in our community, this kind of behavior will not be tolerated,” said Sheriff Jack Mahar “it is also an example of the excellent work performed by our Sheriff’s investigators”
Those arrested Thursday are expected to return to court on October 17th.
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