An Air Force lawyer says he is worried about potential jail time and damage to his career after a pool party at his $1.5 million home in Michigan spiraled into what neighbors described as a chaotic “twerkfest.”
Alex Simpson, 42, was in court Wednesday in connection with the six-hour gathering held June 13 at his Birmingham residence, where more than 150 guests showed up — nearly four times the expected crowd, according to WDIV.
Simpson said he had agreed to let his friend Rodney Harrington, 27, and Harrington’s cousins host the event on the condition that they make a donation to charity.
The attorney, who also serves as a hearing officer, rented out his pool for a planned group of 40 people for $180, but the guest count ultimately swelled to “more than 150,” WDIV reported.
Video and accounts from the party described scantily clad women dancing in the pool and on vehicles as guests left the property, prompting backlash from residents in the surrounding community.
Simpson now faces multiple charges, including breach of peace, creating a public nuisance and disturbing the peace. In court, he expressed concern that the case could jeopardize his professional future.
“We’re here today being arraigned on criminal charges, you know, for what was a pool party,” Simpson told the court.
“I’m an attorney. I’m in the military. You know, criminal charges can impact both my legal career and my military career, and this doesn’t seem like it’s warranted, you know, for what took place.”
Simpson had hired a security team to keep order, but admitted the party turned chaotic.
“I’m not going to sugarcoat and say that, you know, things that happened … should have happened or that, you know, it should have been under more control,” he said.
“So, you know, that’s not … what we’re here today to say at all. But with that said, you know, I think things have gotten … a little blown, you know, out of proportion.”
Neighbors recalled how revelers flooded the neighborhood for the bash at Simpson’s $1.5 million property last month.
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Bewildered residents claimed partially exposed women “walked [out of the home] wearing a thong.”
“She kinda went to adjust herself and … that’s an image you can’t get out of your head. There’s kids around here,” one told WDIV.
Residents were furious that their driveways were swamped with cars, and others claimed some partygoers were being sexually explicit.
“There was females twerking on top of vehicles wearing thongs. It was completely inappropriate,” Brian Homer, who lives nearby, told WXYZ. “It was a twerkfest.”
Some revelers even used three-wheelers on the sidewalk – potentially endangering children and neighbors were left fearful about intervening.
“You can’t be a hostage in our own house or if you do go outside and ask people to calm down, they say things like ‘We’re gonna take over your neighborhood,” James McCarthy, a neighbor, told a city commission meeting, two days after the bash, according to MLive.
He and his wife Kathy McCarthy claimed the bash went on for around six hours.
Simpson previously told WDIV he understood some of his neighbors may have been “annoyed” by the bash – but stressed he wasn’t “aware of any illegal activity.”
“I will address things with my neighbors privately to ensure we are aligned on expectations for our community,” he said.
He claimed that he and his family had been the victim of doxxing online.
Simpson wrote online he was “genuinely sorry” about what unfolded – and vowed to be “a good neighbor.”
Despite his apology, Simpson now potentially faces up to 90 days in jail, a $500 fine or both.
Harrington has been charged with a misdemeanor for violating the noise ordinance and gathering of a disorderly person.
Simpson and his pal are set to appear in court on Aug. 12.
