Former Sag Harbor BOE President 'Did Not Know There Were Kids Consuming Alcohol': Attorney

SAG HARBOR, NY — The attorney for a former Sag Harbor Board of Education president who, according to police, allowed underage drinking at her home — and then allegedly locked authorities out of the residence — said she was not "aware" of what was going on.

According to Southampton Town Police, Susan E. Kinsella-Guinchard, 54, of Sag Harbor was arrested after hosting a party on January 27, where the consumption of alcohol by minors was permitted.

Police responded to Kinsella-Guinchard’s residence after receiving an anonymous tip relayed to them by the New York State Police, authorities said.

Responding officers were able to see minors consuming alcohol within the residence from outside and after questioning Kinsella-Guinchard, she "denied that there was a party and subsequently locked the police out of the residence," police said in a release.

An ensuing investigation led to her arrest on Friday at her home; she was charged with “allowing alcohol consumption by person(s) under the age of 21 at a residence,” more commonly known as the Suffolk County Social Host Law, a violation, police said.

She was issued an appearance ticket to appear at court on a future date, police said.

Daniel G. Rodgers, attorney at law in Southampton Village, told Patch Tuesday that Kinsella-Guinchard, his client, "didn't know" the underaged kids were drinking.

"I'm surprised. It took them almost three weeks to bring this charge," Rodgers said. "It speaks volumes in terms of the strengh of their case."

He added, "My feeling is that you can't be held accountable for something you're not aware of. She did not know there were kids consuming alcohol."

In addition, Rodgers said, the Social Host law was designed for a particular type of situation, where a "parent or guardian of a minor goes out and buys a keg and says, 'Go and invite a bunch of your friends.' You have to have knowledge, or in some way, contribute. You can still be guilty if you know and don't take steps to stop it. She was home, but the kids were in another part of the house."

The first indication Kinsella-Guinchard had "that something was awry, was when police knocked on the door. She got scared and said, 'I can't let you in the house,'" Rodgers said.

As a a former prosecutor, Rodgers said, in many cases, such when a clerk at a local gas station sells alcohol to a minor, that individual is charged with endangering the welfare of a child.

In Kinsella-Guinchard's case, he said, she was not charged with endangering the welfare of a child. "It's almost as if they have questions," he said, regarding whether or not she had knowledge of the drinking — which, he said, his client absolutely did not.

Kinsella-Guinchard is slated to appear in Southampton Justice Court on March 10 at 9 a.m. for arraignment, where Rodgers said his client will plead not guilty, and he will begin to prepare for a trial.