GUILTY PLEAS IN ALCOHOL RELATED DEATH OF CAROL STREAM MINOR

WHEATON - DuPage County State’s Attorney Joseph E. Birkett announced today that a mother and son charged with supplying alcohol to a minor at a party that led to the minor’s accidental drowning death, have each entered a blind plea of guilty in front of Judge Thomas Riggs at a hearing held this morning.  Kenneth Pomella, 22 (d.o.b. 5/29/1985), of Hanover Park, pled guilty to one count of Endangering the Life of a Child, one count of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor and one Count of Unlawful Delivery of Alcohol to a Minor.  Polmella’s mother Joanne Zagone, 51 (d.o.b. 11/16/1956) of Hanover Park, pled guilty to two counts of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor. 

              On June 17, 2005 Zagone hosted an underage drinking party at her home in honor of her son’s graduation.  The party was attended by approximately 40-60 people including sixteen year-old Jonathan Petit.  Four days later, on June 21, Petit was found dead in a retention pond in Carol Stream.  An investigation into the death revealed that Petit had attended the party and had consumed alcohol while there.  He was last seen near the retention pond at approximately 1:45 a.m. June 18 after leaving the party.  The investigation further revealed that Petit’s blood alcohol content was .208, more than twice the legal limit for those over 21 years old.

             “Two and one half years ago, a 16 year-old boy, a minor too young to even legally consume alcohol, lost his life in a terrible alcohol related accident,” commented Birkett.  “Jonathan Petit should not have been drinking that night and Joanne Zagone and Kenneth Pomella should not have supplied the alcohol that contributed to Jonathan’s death.”

             A sentencing hearing is scheduled for both Zagone and Pomella for December 20, 2007 at 11 a.m. in front of Judge Riggs.

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