A Bucks County couple have been cleared of the last misdemeanor charge they faced after police accused them of hosting a large underage drinking party at their home last Halloween.
Common Pleas Judge Stephen Corr dismissed the final corruption of minors charge against Michael Moore, 56, and his wife Rachel Chambers Moore, 47, following a Sept. 16 hearing at the Bucks County Justice Center.
Warrington police initially charged the couple each with four misdemeanors in connection with the Oct. 31 party, which attracted more than 100 teens.
Three of the charges were later dismissed at a preliminary hearing earlier this year including conspiracy and furnishing alcohol to minors.
Attorneys Antonetta Stancu and Christine Cregar, who represented the couple,
argued this is every parent’s worst nightmare.
What started as a small Halloween party was “hijacked by social media” where it was shared with more than 300 juveniles, Stancu said in a press release.
Within a half hour, the Moore’s home was “subjected to a teen takeover,” she said. Juveniles who showed up at the home arrived intoxicated and jumped a fence with bookbags filled with alcohol.
“After their exoneration today, the Moores were thankful their year-long ordeal was over and have the truth prevail,” Stancu said.
Warrington police alleged they arrived at the Joeelle Road home of the Moore family around 9 p.m. and saw around 150 teenagers on the property including some who appeared under the influence of alcohol.
Two juveniles who were "extremely intoxicated" were detained and later cited, according to an affidavit of probable cause.
The Moores were home and they allegedly invited officers inside to assist them regaining control of the party.
Michael Moore told police he hired a bouncer for the party, but the person failed to show up, the affidavit said.
The defendants were in the garage, which was the entryway into the party where they were checking names against the guest list, a witness said, according to the affidavit.
Another witness told police they attempted to enter the party, but were denied entry because they were not on the invite list, Warrington Police said.
Police confirmed that the party was not related to acrash less than a mile away that killed three teens around 9:30 the same night. The teens in that vehicle were not at the Moore home, according to the DA’s office.
The fatal accidentremains under investigation by the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office, which has not released any updates.
Crime and Courts Reporter Jo Ciavaglia can be reached at jciavaglia@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Warrington couple has all charges dismissed in Halloween house party
