Sentence includes 'last chance' from judge in alcohol-related death

A McHenry man convicted of providing beer for an underage drinking party that turned fatal for one teen was sentenced to three months in jail Thursday by a judge who warned him it was his last chance to shape up.

Edward Jungmann, 25, also must serve one year of probation, perform 100 hours community service, pay a $2,500 fine and undergo 12 random drug and alcohol tests under the sentence handed down by McHenry County Judge Charles Weech.

The punishment is well short of the maximum 364 days in jail county prosecutors sought on the misdemeanor charge of delivery of alcohol to a minor, but Weech said he will not hesitate to revoke Jungmann's probation and impose the maximum if he slips up again.

"This is your last chance," Weech said. "If you make any missteps in any way, shape or form, you will leave this court no choice but to send you to jail for 364 days."

Jungmann was found guilty last year of buying two cases of beer for a friend's younger sister, then 17-year-old Jenna Christopherson, for a party she was hosting on St. Patrick's Day 2005.

Party guest Jamie Lyn Smith, 17, of Hebron was driving home drunk later that day when she lost control of her car on Route 47 near her hometown and struck a telephone pole. Smith died from her injuries about eight months later.

Authorities initially charged Jungmann and Christopherson with causing Smith's death but later had to dismiss those charges because alcohol was not the fatality's sole cause.

Smith's parents were in court hoping to testify Thursday, but Weech barred them from taking the stand because Jungmann was not charged specifically with causing the teen's death or directly providing her with alcohol. They declined to comment afterward.

Jungmann and his parents did testify, however, telling the court that after a failed suicide attempt in November, he has gone through substance abuse treatment and turned around his life.

Although he did not specifically address Smith's death on the witness stand, Jungmann testified that he tried to take his own life in part because people he ran into in public called him a murderer.

Asked why people would call him a murderer, Jungmann replied, "Someone had drove from that party and had a car accident and passed away."

Christopherson, now 19, of McHenry also is charged with delivery of alcohol to a minor. However, her case is now pending before the Illinois Supreme Court, which is being asked to decide whether the law applies to minors who provide alcohol to other minors, or only adults who provide alcohol to minors.