May 28 (UPI) — A 52-year-old California woman convicted of hosting drunken house parties for young teenagers has drawn a 35-year prison sentence, prosecutors said Thursday.
Shannon O’Connor of Los Gatos, Calif., dubbed the “Party Mom,” was handed the maximum sentence on child abuse convictions during a hearing at Santa Clara County Court in San Jose.
Prosecutors said O’Connor procured vodka, whiskey and condoms for the 14- and 15-year-olds who attended parties at her home over a two-year period and encouraged them to drink to the point of passing out.
They alleged she warned the victims not to tell their parents about the parties or she could go to jail, and at one handed an teenager a condom and pushed him into a room with an intoxicated minor.
A jury convicted O’Connor in March and this week the court heard victims’ impact statements, including from one young woman who testified that she became suicidal from the experience.
In another instance during a party attended by five 14-year-olds, prosecutors say O’Connor watched and laughed as a drunk teen sexually accosted a young girl in bed.
In yet another case, she encouraged a sexual act after which the young female victim said to O’Connor, “Why did you leave me in there with him? Like, you knew like what he was going to do to me.”
“Many people call this defendant the ‘Los Gatos Party Mom.’ This isn’t some fun parent giving sips of wine spritzers to kids,” Santa Clara District Attorney Jeff Rosen said.
“She facilitated dangerous and drunken sex acts with these children. She risked their lives and damaged their psyches. She is not a party mom. Shannon O’Connor is a convicted felon. Shannon O’Connor is a registered sex offender.”
Rosen said O’Connor would summon teens to party at her home in the middle of the night and in one instance let a minor drive her SUV while another teen was knocked unconscious after falling off the back.