Seabrook man guilty in underage drinking case

By Angeljean Chiaramida
Staff writer

June 30, 2009 03:48 am

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SEABROOK — Police recently charged Bradley Upchurch, 25, of 191 Tilton St., Seabrook, with facilitating a drug or underage alcohol house party, after two teenagers were found drinking at the address over the weekend of June 6 and 7.

At Hampton District Court in Seabrook, Upchurch was found guilty and fined $120.

"There are always one or two houses every year where we find college kids or teenagers drinking illegally at beach houses," Seabrook police Deputy Chief Lee Bitomske said yesterday. "Kids rent beach houses for a week, then invite their friends up and have a party where alcohol is served to underage drinkers."

Bitomske said they charge underage drinkers either with physical possession of alcohol by a person under the age of 21 or with being in possession of open containers of alcohol.

Bitomske is cautioning those who rent homes to be careful whom they rent to and what happens in those homes while they're being rented.

Also arrested on June 6 and charged with being a person under 21 in possession of an open container of alcohol was Abby E. Cristan, 18, of 880 West River Road, Waterville, Maine. She was found guilty and fined $120.

Meagan Lummah, who was 20 at the time of arrest but has since turned 21, of 87 Linden St., No. 1, Allston, was arrested at 1 a.m. on June 7 and also charged being a person under 21 in possession of an open container of alcohol. Lummah was found guilty and fined $120 as well.

Bitomske said some homeowners don't realize that they might be able to rent to 18-year-olds, considering them adults who can sign contracts legally. But 18 isn't old enough to drink legally in New Hampshire, he said, and that's where the problems arise if police find kids drinking at house parties illegally.

"I don't think people realize when we find underage drinkers, we arrest them, bring them into the station and physically book them," Bitomske said. "And they stay here until we can release them to a parent, guardian or responsible adult. It isn't a very pleasant experience."