Arraignment Postponed For Teens at Underage Hingham House Party

Seventeen people charged in connection with an underage drinking party on East Street over the weekend, had their arraignment postponed in Hingham District Court on Tuesday.

The judge ordered a total of 16 youths aged 17-20 years, and a 21-year-old, who were at the underage drinking party on Saturday night, to enter a diversion program, which involves community service and lessons about the effects and the dangers of underage drinking, according to CBS Boston.

The youths will have to return to court June 20, CBS reported.

A criminal complaint was issued against the homeowner, William Hacking, 51, of 342 East Street , for allowing alcohol to be delivered to minors (also known as the state's Social Host Law), being the keeper of a noisy and disorderly house and disturbing the peace. 

Police said Hacking was drunk when they arrived, but Hacking’s attorney Timothy Shyne had disputed those claims, according to CBS.  The attorney also claims Hacking did not know anything about underage drinking at his house.

Hacking told officers that the party was a birthday celebration for his daughter's friend.

Police say as soon as one of their officers got out of his cruiser to investigate the party, at least one glass beer bottle was thrown at him and he called for assistance. The officer then called more Hingham officers and several members of the Cohasset Police Department.

The officers saw several youths run into the woods, a barn in the backyard and inside the house and beer cans and bottle were visible throughout the property.

A total of 16 youths aged 17-20 years from Hingham and Hull were arrested and charged for being minors in possession of transporting alcoholic beverages and disturbing the peace; Fourteen of them were teens and two were 20 years old. A 21-year-old man was also arrested for disturbing the peace.

Under the “social host” law, a  host is liable when he or she serves alcohol or controls the supply of alcohol. In this case, police say Hacking allowed the teens to drink, and is therefore responsible.  He could face up to one year in prison or up to a $2,000 fine or both if he is convicted of allowing alcohol to be delivered to minors.