Teens arrested at drinking party plead not guilty

Five of six teens arrested at a Deerfield party staged in a house whose owners were out of town pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Lake County Circuit Court.

The July 20 arrests took place in the shadow of the trial of two Deerfield adults convicted of allowing teens to drink in their home. Three of the teens charged in the incident were at the party the trial centered on.

Jeffrey and Sara Hutsell were convicted of hosting a party on Oct. 13 that led to a car crash that killed two of the party's guests, Daniel Bell and Ross Trace, both 18.

One of the people who was in the car but survived the crash, Angelo Grandi, 19, and two other guests at the Hutsells' party, Charles Jones and Carlie Lapin, both 19, were among the people arrested July 20.

Assistant State's Attorney Marc Bangser said police were called to a house in the 900 block of King Richards Court by a neighbor who was concerned because the homeowners were out of town and there was activity in the house.

When they arrived, police found three of the teens coming out of the house with beer in their hands and three others hiding in a crawl space inside the house.

Some of those arrested are also charged with possession of a small amount of marijuana, and those who were in the crawl space are charged with resisting or obstructing a police officer.

Bangser said all six are charged with criminal trespass to a residence and possession of alcohol by a minor.

Grandi, of Deerfield, is also charged with unlawful consumption of alcohol by a minor and possession of marijuana.

Lapin, Jonathan Korengold, 18, and Matthew Dohnalek, 19, all of Deerfield, are also charged with possession of marijuana and resisting or obstructing a police officer.

Jordan Kristinoz, 19, of Glencoe, is also charged with possession of marijuana.

All of the charges are misdemeanors that, except for the marijuana charges, carry maximum penalties of a year in jail and a $2,500 fine.

The marijuana charges are punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a $500 fine.

Dohnalek is due in court again Sept. 7; Korengold and Lapin are scheduled to appear Sept. 12; and Grandi and Kristinoz are due Sept. 19.

Charles Jones, 19, of Deerfield, is the only one of the six charged who did not appear in court Wednesday.

He is due in court Oct. 12 for arraignment.