High school hazing on The Early Show

momoftwo · #31 10-02-2003, 09:25 AM

The thing about this article that gets me is that she is ordered to do 14 hours of community service and she hasn't done it yet (all the kids have). Being a mom in this district, I'm sure I've put in lots more than 14 hours for the community since May!

Mom gets probation for buying GBN teens beer
BY IRV LEAVITT
STAFF WRITER

Cook County Circuit Court Judge Timothy Chambers meted out sentences to a few more of the defendants in the May 4 Northbrook hazing incident last week, including one of the adults charged with helping supply the beer.

Christine Neal, 49, one of two women accused of providing the alcohol that fueled the now-notorious Cook County Forest Preserve melee, received no jail time. None of the other 12 convicted so far have, either. Millions around the world saw videotaped clips of Glenbrook North High school seniors throwing excrement and other substances at younger students in Chipilly Woods, and then beating some of them.

Neal, of Northbrook, pleaded guilty Friday to providing liquor to minors, and Chambers sentenced her to one year of probation and 14 days community service. She left the courtroom without comment.

Her son Dominic Vargas, 18, also of Northbrook, who was accused of carrying the beer to the Chipilly Woods scene, and of battery in relation to attacks on the juniors, didn't plead guilty. Like several defendants before him, he was allowed to plead not guilty while stipulating to the facts of the cases as presented by prosecutors, which will likely allow him to expunge the conviction from his record. He was sentenced to one year of court supervision, and 50 hours of community service.

Also Friday, Jamie Kozin, 18, stipulated to the facts of her battery charges, and received nine months court supervision and 60 hours community service. Valerie Udell, 18, was sentenced to one year supervision and 50 hours o community service.

Sept. 24, Tanya Dionissopoulos, 17, stipulated to her battery charges, and was sentenced to one year of court supervision, 50 hours of community service, and drug and alcohol evaluation.

All but Neal maintained that they had already performed all of their community service, which consists of volunteering at nursing homes, hospitals and other facilities.