LONOKE COUNTY, Ark. (KTHV) — An Arkansas mother and elementary school teacher was arrested early Sunday after allegedly serving alcohol to more than 30 underage individuals in an after-prom bash.
According to Sheriff John Staley with the Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to W. Lewisburg Road around 4 a.m. to a suspected underage party involving alcohol. When deputies arrived, numerous people are said to have fled the area, but were located in the adjacent woods.
Staley said a majority of the minors were “very intoxicated upon contact.” The scene was described to have a large amount of empty alcohol containers and a full-sized keg on hand.
According to a release, the party-goers were in the care of 48-year-old Marcie Duncan who maintained she had everything under control at the property owned by her family. Staley said she appeared to be intoxicated when speaking with deputies.
Duncan is said to have listed her occupation as a teacher with Clinton Elementary School in Sherwood, Ark.
After deputies stopped three cars from leaving, an ambulance was called to the scene to check the status of individuals appearing “extremely intoxicated.” None were transported to a hospital.
Staley said parents of each of the 33 underage individuals were contacted, and Duncan was taken to the Lonoke County Detention Center where she was required to post bond.
She is charged with 33 counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, 33 counts of furnishing alcohol to a minor, two counts of endangering the welfare of a minor, and violation of the “Arkansas Social Host Law.”
The release concluded, “Sheriff Staley stated that he is very proud that the deputies were able to stop the couple car loads of teens from leaving. The Sheriff and his team are working hard to protect our youth and the few that decide to allow our youth to be in this type of situation will be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the Law. Sheriff Staley advised that deputies have received information that through the night it is estimated that many more underage individuals had been at this location. Further investigation to follow. “