Published: December 19, 2007 07:18 pm         

Trudeaus plead, pay fines

Former Colts Quarterback Jack Trudeau and his wife, Lisa, each pleaded guilty to a class C infraction of inducing a minor to possess alcohol.

The Boone County prosecutor’s office announced Friday, Dec. 14, that it had dropped all other felony and misdemeanor charges against the couple, stemming from a June 2 high school graduation party at their rural Zionsville home.

The Trudeaus each paid a $2,500 fine on Friday, Dec. 14, according to the Boone County Clerk’s office. The Indiana 2006 Criminal Code lists the fine for a class C infraction at up to $500.

Last month, the Indiana Court of Appeals denied Jack Trudeau’s appeal of Superior Court II Judge Rebecca McClure’s decision to deny two motions to suppress evidence in the case. The motions were regarding information found on the Trudeaus’ daughter’s Facebook account and evidence found in their back yard by Whitestown police.

On Nov. 2, Boone County Prosecutor Todd Meyer dropped two of Jack Trudeau’s misdemeanor charges and added three more.

Trudeau remained charged with a class D felony obstruction of justice for allegedly not giving police a clipboard he was using to keep track of minors at the party. A guilty verdict could have sent him to jail for up to three years and cost him as much as a $10,000 fine.

The new charges were: A class A misdemeanor charge of aiding, inducing or causing contributing to the delinquency of a minor; a class C misdemeanor of aiding, including or causing furnishing alcohol to a minor; and a class C misdemeanor of aiding, inducing or causing illegal possession or consumption of alcohol by a minor. If convicted of all three misdemeanors, Trudeau could have received up to one year, 120 days in jail, and a $6,000 fine.

Lisa Trudeau was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor and furnishing alcohol to a minor, both misdemeanors.

“(The Trudeaus) acknowledge the efforts of Meyer in looking closely at the evidence and helping to bring this matter to a close,” Jack Trudeau’s attorney Michael Andreoli said in a press release.

In a press release, Meyer said the case showed people it is against the law to allow underage drinking.

“More importantly though, I hope the message that reaches the public is that we should do everything within our power to help educate our young people about the dangers and risks associated with underage drinking,” he said.

Boone County Sheriff Ken Campbell said the important part the case is the Trudeaus took responsibility for violating the law.

“As a result of that, educational opportunities occurred for other parents to recognize it is against the law, and we will take the action necessary to enforce those laws,” Campbell said.

Indiana Coalition to Reduce Underage Drinking Director Lisa Hutcheson of Lebanon said in a press release she hopes the Trudeaus will use this experience to encourage other parents to follow the law.

“Underage drinking is a serious problem, and it is important that parents and other adults not look the other way when minors are drinking,” she said.

     

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