Mom Of Teen Who Overdosed At Party Speaks Out On Homeowner's 'Slap On The Wrist'

EAST HAMPTON, NY — Days after the Springs host of an underage drinking party where a teen overdosed — with the teen's nightmare captured on Snapchat by a partygoer —began his eight-month jail sentence recently, according to court officials — the mom of the young man expressed her outrage over a sentence she feels is a mere slap on the wrist.

According to the East Hampton Town Justice Court, Jefferson D. Eames, 38, of the 100 block of Neck Path in Springs, was brought to jail recently after being sentenced to eight months behind bars by Justice Lisa Rana.

"Four months, 12 months, a life sentence — as a mother, and the trauma I had to go through of almost losing my only child, I honestly believe there would be no sentence great enough to satisfy me," said Christine Moran, the mom of Jordan Johnson, who almost lost his life on that fateful night.

She referred to another overdose that occurred at the same home, after her own son's ordeal and said a broken legal system is responsible for "this slap on the wrist."

Of Eames, Moran said, "May he find the help he needs to move forward into a healthier lifestyle."

But for Moran and her son, the journey toward healing has been long.

"We are forever scarred by this man, but Jordan and I are trying to move on with our lives and put this behind us," she said. "Jordan is healthy and well. Almost a full recovery, but has permanently lost 40% of his hearing and suffers from severe tinnitus. He's come a long way these past six months. We are very grateful."

Still, she said, her son has "had to deal with negative social media posts, opinions, and comments, but he's able to put that aside, work —and looks forward to moving on with his life in a positive direction. He just wants to be a kid again."

Change needs to happen on a larger canvas, Moran said, if there is any hope of dispelling a deeply entrenched culture where parents allow underage drinking parties in their homes.

"At this time you read in the papers almost every other week of adults being charged with underage drinking parties, or drugs present. The police are finally taking this seriously and the won't stand for it anymore. Unfortunately, it going to continue to be a battle until some parents take it just as seriously."

In March, Eames was charged with numerous offenses related to house parties where he allegedly sold Xanax to a teen and allowed underage drinking, police said — and the home is the same location where Jordan Johnson, 18, overdosed, authorities confirmed.

Eames, East Hampton Town Police said, was charged with offenses related to the sale of a controlled substance by providing Xanax to a youth living at his residence, endangering the welfare of children less than 17 years of age and violating the Suffolk County Social Host Law for knowingly allowing children to consume alcohol at his residence.

He was taken into custody at his residence when he attempted to re-enter the home and close the door on investigators, police said.

He was charged with one count of fifth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, a felony, nine counts of endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor, three counts of violating Suffolk County's Social Host law, an unclassified misdemeanor, and one count of resisting arrest, a misdemeanor, police said.

After Johnson overdosed and was, according to the attorney representing him and his family, left for dead, the community came together in an outpouring of concern,working together to ensure such incidents never happen again.

Moran thanked the many who rallied behind her son, even organizing a fundraiser to help.

Johnson spoke to Patch in a heartfelt interview about that terrifying night, saying, "It scares me. If I had died I wouldn't have been able to say good-bye."

Eileen Powers, Eames' attorney, did not immediately return a call for comment.