Second Arrest Made In Relation To Investigation Regarding Alleged Springs House Parties, Underage Drinking: Police

EAST HAMPTON, NY — A second arrest has been made in relation to a case involving alleged house parties in Springs where underage drinking took place, police said.

According to East Hampton Town Police, Robert Andrade, 41, was arrested Wednesday and charged with four counts of endangering the welfare of a child less than 17 of age, according to East Hampton Town Police Lt. Rob Gurney.

He was arrested as a result of a prior investigation that led to multiple charges against Springs homeowner Jefferson D. Eames, 48, Gurney confirmed.

Andrade was released after he paid $100 cash bail; he was arraigned Thursday and pleaded not guilty, East Hampton Town Justice Court records show.

Meanwhile, Eames, of Springs, charged with numerous offenses related to house parties where he allegedly sold Xanax to a teen and allowed underage drinking, according to police, was released on his own recognizance Tuesday, according to East Hampton Town Justice Court records, which indicated that Eames has not been indicted.

He is represented by attorney Eileen Powers.

All charges remain pending and technically, the Suffolk County district attorney has up to six months from arraignment to investigate the felony charge and decide whether to indict, according to law.

Under law, although bail was initially set at $40,000, without an indictment, Eames was able to be released on his own recognizance after five days.

The home where the parties allegedly took place is the same location where Jordan Johnson, 18, recently overdosed, authorities confirmed.

According to East Hampton Town Police, Eames, of the 100 block of Neck Path in Springs, was arrested on March 2 at 12:28 p.m. and charged with "numerous criminal counts" related to underage parties allegedly held at his residence.

Eames, 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.

Police and Christine Moran, Johnson's mother, who was found hours after he overdosed, said the home is the same location as where Johnson was found.

After Johnson overdosed and was, according to the attorney representing him and his family, left for dead, the community came forth in an outpouring of concern, calling for change.

East Hampton Town Police Captain Anderson said adults need to take the lead in educating kids. "It would start with conversations with your kids, first and foremost. There's a Social Host Law and it's incumbent upon those adults to exercise good judgment," he said.

Anderson added that Eames' came after a "series of incidents," and said, "It is still a continuing investigation, it remains active, and there is the potential for additional charges."