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Youngsville woman receives sentence

A Youngsville woman was sentenced to two years probation and a fine for serving juveniles mixed drinks at a party at her home.

Stefanie M. Melice, 36, Youngsville, pled guilty and was sentenced on Thursday to a count of corruption of minors. A count of selling or furnishing liquor to a minor was not prosecuted.

According to Youngsville Borough Police, police received an anonymous tip shortly before midnight, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019, that an underage drinking party was underway in the borough.

All was quiet when police, with assistance from Pennsylvania State Police, arrived at the Hillside Drive residence, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

Inside, police found the homeowners and 11 juveniles under the age of 21, according to the affidavit. They also saw a cooler full of alcoholic beverages.

Police say 10 of the 11 had been drinking and six were subsequently interviewed by police.

“All six advised that the accused, Stefanie Melice, provided them with brewed beverages by showing them the cooler and allowing them to consume what was contained within the cooler,” according to police. “Five of those interviewed advised that Stefanie Melice made them mixed drinks in red Solo cups containing alcohol along with apple cider or cranberry juice,” per the affidavit of probable cause.

During sentencing, Melice’s attorney, Philip Friedman, told the court that his client is a “very good person and very good mom” who “made a mistake.”

He said information on the party was posted on Facebook.

District Attorney Rob Greene said the only reason that the Commonwealth wasn’t opposed to a period of probation as a sentence was her lack of a prior record.

But he didn’t take such a reserved response to her actions.

“I would be outraged if this happened to my kids,” Greene said, indicating this conduct “flies in the face of good parenting.”

While he said there is no benefit to incarcerating Melice, he did suggest that conduct like this is what leads to people developing drug and alcohol problems.

“(It) isn’t the 1900s when kids went to work at 13,” Greene said, suggesting that minimizing the conduct “flies in the face of justice.”

“Obviously, we’re embarrassed and ashamed,” Melice said.

Skeda called it “extremely poor judgment” but “also criminal..

“As a parent you have to be an example,” she added, and agreed with Greene about the effect of alcohol causing future problems.

“Tragic events do occur,” she said, noting that “very fortunately” nothing tragic happened in this instance.

She then sentenced Melice to two years probation, $1,675 in fines and fees, submission of a DNA sample, 50 hours of community service and participation in the COG program.

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