Sullivan woman charged with violating social host law

MONTICELLO – The Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office has charged a Jeffersonville woman with a violation of the county’s social host law.
Vanessa Sergio, 41, allegedly allowed underage youths to consumer alcoholic beverages at her home. The charge is a first offense, which carries a $500 fine and community service.
On Friday, March 17, at about 11 p.m., deputies received a report of an underage drinking party at a residence at 579 Swiss Hill Road North in Jeffersonville.  Deputies found about a dozen youths drinking alcohol. Four tested above the legal limit of .08 blood alcohol content; their parents were called to take them home.
The Sullivan County Social Host Law was proposed by District Attorney
James Farrell and adopted by the county legislature in 2012.
Sheriff Michael Schiff called it an important tool in the fight against underage drinking.
“Aside from the stories we hear about alcohol poisoning and fatal
DWI crashes, studies show that underage drinking has a lifetime of consequences
for our children,” Schiff said “Keeping our children safe
and out of harm’s way is a top propriety for both my office and
the district attorney.”