Teens appear in court after cops bust high school drinking party

SALISBURY, Mass. -- Police make 19 arrests after a high school party gets a little out of control.

The party was hosted by Bishop Fenwick High School student Shannon Umanita, 18, at her home on Seabrook Road Saturday night.

Her parents were out of town in Florida at the time of the party.

More than a dozen kids showed up Tuesday at Newburyport District Court.

Only Umanita's 22-year-old brother and another male had to appear before a judge.

Umanita waited outside the courtroom with the other teens arrested for underage drinking. They filled out paperwork to get in a pre-trial diversion program, which is designed to keep their records clean.

The attorney for Umanita's brother said his client did nothing wrong.

"He did not and would not have ever procured alcohol to minors," the defense's attorney, Robert Ciampitti, said. "Nonetheless, he finds himself... in a very difficult situation. The family is very concerned."

They also came upon a disturbing find: a stash of weapons in one of the rooms.

"It could have been a tragedy that night," Det. Sgt. Richard Merrill, of the Salisbury Police Department, said. "Alcohol, weapons, guns -- they don't mix. It's a bad mix, especially with teenagers."

Police say the guns belong to Umanita's father and were not registered.

Ciampitti says the father has not been charged.

"There is nothing formal against the father," Ciampitti said. "If that were to happen, we would cross that bridge when we came to it."

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