MOTHER, SON SENTENCED IN ALCOHOL RELATED DEATH OF CAROL STREAM MINOR
WHEATON - DuPage County State’s Attorney Joseph E. Birkett announced today that a mother and son have each been sentenced to eight days in the DuPage County Jail for their roles in the accidental, alcohol-related drowning death of a sixteen year-old boy. The defendants will serve four consecutive weekends in jail beginning on Friday, January 4, 2008.
On November 19, 2007, Kenneth Pomella, 22 (d.o.b. 5/29/1985), of Hanover Park, entered a blind plea of 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. On the same day, his mother, Joanne Zagone, 51 (d.o.b. 11/16/1956) of Hanover Park, entered a blind plea of guilty to two counts of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor. The case was heard in front of Judge Thomas Riggs.
Today’s sentence stems from a June 17, 2005 underage drinking party hosted by Zagone in honor of her son’s recent graduation. Sixteen year-old Jonathan Petit attended the party along with approximately sixty other people. 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’s blood alcohol content was .208, more than twice the legal limit for those over 21 years old. The investigation further revealed that Petit, who was last seen near the retention pond at approximately 1:45 a.m. June 18, had consumed alcohol provided by Zagone and Pomella at the party.
“At sixteen years old, Jonathan Petit was not old enough to legally consume alcohol,” commented Birkett. “On June 17, 2005, the defendants in this case provided Jonathan with alcohol which led to a terrible alcohol related accident that cost him his life. Today, Joanne Zagone and Kenneth Pomella were held responsible for their role in the events that occurred that night, a night I am sure all involved wish had never happened.”
In addition to the jail time, each defendant was ordered to pay $500 in fines and court costs. Pomella was also ordered to serve 100 hours of community service with an anti-drunk-driving organization.
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