Virginia parents have been arrested after their twin sons’ birthday party spiraled into an alcohol-fueled gathering, prompting police to shut it down as hundreds of teenagers fled into nearby streets.
Lisa Vaughan, 45, and Aubrey Vaughan, 55, were charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor and maintaining a common nuisance after their party at the couple’s $3 million home in McLean was overwhelmed by teenagers on November 6.
Officers arrived to the sound of fireworks and found intoxicated teenagers stumbling around the property.
“We haven’t had any alcohol,” Lisa told Fairfax County Police, according to body-camera footage. “We’ve been making sure.”
“Are you joking?” an officer asked.
“No,” she replied. “I’m not joking. We’ve been making sure there are no backpacks and no alcohol.”
“You don’t smell it in the air right now?” the officer asked.
“No, I don’t smell anything,” Lisa responded.
Teenagers were seen running through the streets after police broke up an underage party in McLean, Virginia, on November 6
Police responded to complaints that between 100 and 300 teenagers had gathered in the Vaughan family’s backyard
“It reeks like liquor, and we’ve got drunk kids walking everywhere,” the officer replied.
Moments later, a loud explosion came from behind the house, followed by the sound of teenage boys shouting, “Oh!”
Officers rushed toward the rear of the property as teenagers poured out from the side of the home. Smoke could be seen rising behind the house.
Hazy body-camera footage showed police ordering the large group to “go home.” Another powerful explosion was heard moments later.
The teenagers were later seen making their way home through the darkened streets.
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Neighbors made multiple calls to police at around 9 p.m., reporting that between 100 and 300 teenagers had gathered at the Vaughan residence.
Aubrey said the event was intended for eighth-grade students, but high school students eventually arrived and the gathering quickly got out of control, he told Fox 5 DC.
The parents said they were “embarrassed” by the incident and made their twin sons visit neighbors from door to door to apologize, Aubrey told the outlet.
The Vaughans were charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor and maintaining a common nuisance. Aubrey (right) said the couple was “embarrassed” by what happened
“We haven’t had any alcohol,” Lisa told Fairfax County Police, according to body-camera footage. “We’ve been making sure”
Aubrey said he was grateful that police arrived to disperse the unruly crowd and noted that it was the first party the couple had ever hosted
Aubrey also said he was grateful that police arrived to clear the unruly guests from the property. He said it was the first party the couple had ever hosted.
Aubrey maintained that the parents had prohibited alcohol, telling Fox 5 DC that the invitations clearly stated backpacks and alcohol were not permitted. Anyone who arrived with either would be asked to leave, he said.
He later discovered that the party had been promoted on Snapchat, leading uninvited guests to attend.
“Mr. and Mrs. Vaughan were quickly overwhelmed when older, high-school-aged students crashed their middle-schooler’s party,” their lawyer, Alaric Piette, told Our News Outlet.
“When people see this, they should put themselves in the position of a parent. The lesson is simply to make sure you’re monitoring Snapchat,” Aubrey told Fox 5 DC.
The couple was stunned when police called the following morning and asked them to surrender, according to their lawyer, Alaric Piette.
“They are upset and embarrassed by these charges, but they understood that the police were doing their job,” Alaric told Our News Outlet.
“However, they are devastated, and their reputations have been permanently damaged by the article released by the FCPD Media Office. The article does not include the usual disclaimer found in DOJ press releases, stating that Mr. and Mrs. Vaughan are innocent until proven guilty.”
Both parents surrendered to authorities and were released on $1,000 bonds.
