Death of Justin Speights during
a party brought the issue
to light
GOSHEN – Orange County lawmakers, meeting in committee on Thursday
gave their tentative approval to the adoption of a social host law that
would hold an adult resident legally responsible for allowing underage
people to consume alcoholic beverages under their roof.
The issue came to light following the New Year’s morning stabbing death of Justin Speights, 20, the Town of Wallkill resident who attempted to break up a fight at a party held at a private home in the Town of Crawford.
Port Jervis Police Chief, William Worden, who is president of the Orange County Police Chiefs’ Association, said education is key to the elimination of underage drinking.
“As parents we have to establish that culture that we are not going to allow the underage drinking to occur under our roofs because we are responsible for the actions of our children,” Worden said.
Dominick Blasko, chief of the Town of Crawford Police, where the homicide occurred, agrees.
“We are not talking about a cultural glass of wine with dinner that is common; we are talking about letting them drink socially. We think they have to set that limit and not let them drink socially,” Blasko said.
The investigation into who killed Speights, who was a dedicated member of the Silver Lake Fire Department in Wallkill, continues. Police say over 100 people were at that party and someone must have seen something that could be reported to help catch the killer.
