Four face alcohol charges after underage party

RALEIGH, NC (NEWS RELEASE) -– North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement agents charged four people following an investigation of a Castle Hayne house party Sept. 22 where two people were stabbed. Charges were filed during the past two weeks and included multiple counts of aiding and abetting an underage person in the consumption of alcohol. Two of the four arrested were charged with selling alcohol without a license.

The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office called for ALE assistance at the 5500 block of Sidbury Road in Castle Hayne at 1 a.m., Sept. 22. ALE special agents Dean Saunders and Rebecca Best arrived on the scene as a New Hanover Sheriff’s detective was issuing citations to 16 people for underage consumption.

Stabbing victims Daniel Witherspoon, 21, and John “J.C.” Cheatham, Jr., 24, were taken to New Hanover Regional Medical Center for treatment and later released.

Eyewitnesses said 150 to 200 people were attending the party that was held in an abandoned house. Ages of the attendees ranged from 16 to 55 years old. Cups of beer were selling for $3 a piece. Several kegs of beer were seized for evidence.

“This case is a reminder that violent crime is fueled by illegal drug use,” said Ben David, district attorney for New Hanover and Pender counties. “Alcohol abuse by our young people continues to produce all types of tragedy from violent and sexual assaults to traffic fatalities. Where adults are responsible for providing alcohol to minors, they will be held fully accountable under the law.”

Special ALE Agent in Charge Bill Berryhill of the Wilmington ALE Office said, “We take allegations of adults serving alcohol to minors very seriously and we appreciate the work of the district attorney’s office with the prosecution of these cases.”

The following individuals were charged:

Christopher Dale Gardner, 18, of 3324 NC Highway 133, Rocky Point, was charged with 16 counts of aiding and abetting an underage person.*
Christopher Joseph Craven, 19, of 552 Beaver Ridge Drive, Riegelwood, was charged with 16 counts of aiding and abetting an underage person, and one count of selling alcohol without first obtaining the applicable ABC permit and revenue licenses.**
Barbara Jean Thompson, 34, of 245 Timber Trail Road, Rocky Point, was charged with 16 counts of aiding and abetting an underage person, and one count of selling alcohol without first obtaining the applicable ABC permit and revenue licenses.**
Barbara Dawn McCoy, 39, of 800 NC Highway 133, Lot 7, Rocky Point was charged with 16 counts of aiding and abetting an underage person, and one count of selling alcohol without first obtaining the applicable ABC permit and revenue licenses.**

Additional arrests and charges may occur in the future.
* Aid & Abet by an Underage-Any person who is under the lawful age to purchase and who aids or abets another in the consumption of any alcoholic beverage-GS 18B-302(c)(1) Class 2 misdemeanor.
**GS 18B-304(a) a Class 1 misdemeanor.