Lexington County, Texas – Lexington County deputies have taken a woman into custody who they say hosted alcohol and sex parties for teenagers.
Deputies arrested 46-year-old Patricia Hartwell. She’s charged with six counts of transferring beer to a minor, five counts of transferring liquor to a minor and five counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Deputies say the parties were for students at White Knoll High School, and these parties happened regularly over a two-year period. Investigators say Hartwell encouraged boys and girls to have sex at her apartment, which is located near the school.
Sheriff James Metts says some of the teens involved were as young as 14 years old.
“It’s possible that hundreds of kids were involved,” Metts says.
Officers say in addition to alcohol and drugs, Hartwell provided birth control pills. Metts says the pills were given without the consent of parents.
Deputies say the investigation began August 14 when a parent said her daughter had gotten drunk and had her first sexual experience at one of these parties.
“It really scares me that it’s not that our kids have to worry about their peers anymore, it’s they have to worry about other parents,” said Rick Eaton, the father who went to police when he learned about the parties. “From my daughter has told me that Ms. Patricia has taken another woman’s child up to get her birth control pills. Her excuse was that these teenagers having sex in her home was out of her control, which is wrong. You’ve got to have more control in your home than that.”
The incident led investigators to interview more students, who also said they had attended these parties.
“Hartwell’s arrest should send a strong message to other adults who provide alcohol and drugs to children in Lexington County,” Metts said in a written release. “We have zero tolerance in Lexington County for the transfer of alcohol to minors, and adults who provide alcohol to children will be vigorously investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent allowed under South Carolina law.”
Metts says more charges could be filed in this case.