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Chief: 50-Year-Old Woman Urged Teens To Chug Beer At Party

HARRISON CITY, Pa. (KDKA/AP) - A Westmoreland County woman is facing charges, accused of throwing an alcohol-fueled party at her home for several underage teens.

Penn Township Police say the party was held on Feb. 13 at a home on Whistle Drive. There were 20 underage kids and a lot of alcohol.

"The chugging of alcohol, the shotgunning of beer, things along those lines," said Penn Township Police Chief John Otto.

According to police, video they obtained of the party shows 50-year-old Linda Swope allegedly chugging beer with the teens and laughing at a passed-out girl while hosting the party at her home.

"One of the more disturbing parts of the video shows a minor juvenile student unconscious on the living room floor and the video portrays Ms. Swope laughing," said Chief Otto.

Police found out when a Penn Trafford High School student showed a school resource officer the video of the incident.

"What concerns me the most is we had an adult on sight that allowed conditions for a disaster to continue," Chief Otto added.

And police say Swope wasn't just hosting the bash.

"Ms. Swope was an active participant in this party," Chief Otto said.

Police say none of the kids suffered any other ill effects from the party except maybe a few hangovers.

Swope is facing charges of corruption of minors, reckless endangerment and providing alcohol to minors.

Investigators say it's possible some of the juveniles involved in this party could face charges as well.

A preliminary hearing is set for March 24.

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