Free cigarettes possible motive for Standish man who allegedly gave alcohol to minors

While this small, northeastern Michigan city has a quaint, hometown feel, area residents say underage drinking is going on and parents are to blame.

Community members reacted Thursday to reports of a recent drinking party involving a dozen 11- and 12-year-olds.

“If that’s true, you have to blame the parents. That’s just terrible,” said Standish resident Eileen Gilbert.

Standish police Chief Mark Christian said more than a dozen 11- and 12-year-olds were given minor-in-possession citations Dec. 3 in a neighborhood on River Street. A 43-year-old Standish man is expected to be charged with providing the alcohol.

As of Thursday, police had not identified the adult they believe involved in the incident. But they said the man confessed to buying the alcohol.

The Times attempted to contact the man at his home, based on a tip from one of his relatives. A woman at the home, Jo-Lin Heriter, identified herself as the man’s girlfriend.

She said he was taken to jail Tuesday for an unrelated probation violation but said he is “innocent until proven guilty.”

She added that he told her he had purchased the alcohol in exchange for a free pack of cigarettes.

People such as 81-year-old Phyllis Elliott of Pinconning feel the children’s parents share the blame.

“My question is, what are the parents thinking?” said Elliott, who visits Standish frequently to shop and see friends.

“I had seven children and, at that age, I knew where they were at all times. I would never let them out for parties if I didn’t know what was going on,” she said.

One resident in the River Street area who declined to give his name said he frequently sees groups of middle school-aged kids running around the neighborhood.

“(Kids) run all over the place. Sometimes they’re loud and I have to tell them to knock it off,” said the neighbor.

Gilbert though, who lives a block away on Main Street, said the neighborhood is pretty quiet.

Arenac County Undersheriff Don McIntyre hopes a serious penalty is in store for the person who provided the alcohol.

“This is the youngest group of kids that I’ve heard (involved with underage drinking) since I’ve been here,” said McIntyre. “I would hope a judge sees the seriousness of this.

“Eleven and 12 years old is a significantly low age. You normally would see this with high school-aged kids, not middle school.”

Standish Police Chief Mark Christian said he chased down more than a dozen 11- and 12-year-olds Friday and was brought into a house where several bottles of alcohol were found. Christian said the children told him that they pooled their money and gave it to the man who then purchased the alcohol for them.

Christian said the man could face charges of selling and furnishing alcohol to minors — a misdemeanor that could bring more than $1,000 in fines and up to 60 days in jail.

Today, in a text message to the Times, Christian said no further information is available at this time and he expects to know more next week.

Underage drinking isn’t new to Arenac County, said McIntyre.

“But kids are getting smarter by staying off the roads, staying in small groups and drinking alcohol in obscure locations,” said McIntyre. “They’re definitely getting more creative in that aspect.”

Alcohol consumption by children or adults younger than 21 is always a concern for the sheriff’s office, said McIntyre, but with 11- and 12-year-olds, it’s a greater concern.

“Eleven- and 12-year-olds don’t have the ability of logical reasoning as an 18-year-old would have. Just as an 18-year-old wouldn’t have that logical reasoning that a 30-year-old would have,” said McIntyre. “It’s a dangerous decision.”