Court undoes ruling in teen's case

A state appellate court has reversed a McHenry County judge's ruling that cleared a teenager who supplied beer for a St. Patrick's Day party in which a guest later died in a drunken-driving crash.

The decision lets prosecutors have another chance to try to convict Jenna Christopherson of supplying alcohol to minors, punishable by up to a $500 fine.

Judge Charles Weech dismissed the misdemeanor in August 2006, saying the law used to charge the then-17-year-old was limited to adults of legal drinking age.

At the time the decision was thought to be a first in Illinois, where a charge of supplying alcohol to minors was thrown out because the accused also was underage. Prosecutors contested the ruling, in part because a death was involved.

In a 13-page ruling by Appellate Judge Kathryn Zenoff filed Wednesday, she said Weech erred in his interpretation of the law. She said the law prohibits supplying alcohol to minors by a person of any age.

On St. Patrick's Day 2005, Christopherson threw a party for several teens, including 17-year-old classmate Jamie Lynn Smith of Hebron, according to court records.

Smith drank at the party and went to another residence before heading home. On the way, she lost control of her car on Route 47 and hit a telephone pole, police have said. She died from her injuries about eight months later.

In October, Ed Jungmann of McHenry was convicted of delivery of alcohol to a minor for buying beer for the party. In that case, he faces up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine when he is sentenced next year.