Douglas County authorities have charged 10 people -- including Douglasville's chief code enforcement officer -- they say helped supply alcohol at two parties attended by teens before a fatal wreck.
The accident early last Saturday morning killed Cheyenne Sauls, 16, a Villa Rica High School sophomore. Her funeral is today.
Douglasville's chief code enforcement officer, Todd McAllister, owns the Sterling Point Drive home that hosted the second party, the Sheriff's Office said. He and his son, Justin McAllister, 17, were among five defendants who appeared in court Friday on charges of furnishing alcohol to minors.
"That's the party they left just prior to the accident," Chief Deputy Stan Copeland said.
Sauls was a passenger in a Chevy Blazer driven by Jason Lark, 17. Lark lost control of the vehicle on Pleasant Drive, and it flipped several times. Sauls was killed, and two other passengers seriously injured.
A passenger who fled the scene, 21-year-old Dustin Willis, is charged with being a party to vehicular homicide and furnishing alcohol to minors.
"Willis was with this group of young folks, furnishing alcohol and allowing them to drive, drinking all night," Copeland said. "He was at both parties. He was kind of the nexus that allowed this tragedy to occur."
Sherman Bennett, 69, is charged with furnishing alcohol to minors and contributing to the delinquency to a minor. Authorities say he admitted buying vodka and beer at the request of his grandson and grandson's friends for the first party, on Biscayne Way.
"I know I was wrong," Bennett said, according to the Times-Georgian.
Rocky Patel, owner of Chapel Hill Package Store, also is charged with furnishing alcohol to minors. Copeland said authorities have video of Justin McAllister buying alcohol at that store.
One of the injured teens, Jamie McManus, remains in the hospital.
Lark is being held without bond. He is charged with DUI, first-degree vehicular homicide, two counts of serious injury by vehicle, underage person in possession of alcohol, driving too fast for conditions, reckless driving and no driver's license on his person.
About the Author
