The six young East Bridgewater men connected to an out-of-control party that caused more than $50,000 in damages to an Elm Street home last year will face Brockton Superior Court Judge Carol Ball on Monday.
By Amanda Reed
January 22, 2011
Note: This article was originally published on EnterpriseNews.com.
A house at 222 Elm St. in East Bridgewater, where police broke up a teen party Feb. 20, 2010. Photo: Tim Correira / The Enterprise
EAST BRIDGEWATER – Six local youths charged with trashing an Elm Street house to the tune of $50,000 are set to go to trial Monday in Brockton Superior Court.
Police say the suspects threw a party at the home of an acquaintance while that young man’s parents were in Paris. The parents returned to find blood and urine smeared on the walls, windows smashed, holes in the walls, doors off the hinges and an antique couch that had been set on fire.
Monday’s trial is set to take place before Superior Court Judge Carol Ball. The defendants waived their right to a jury and will be tried together.
The men were indicted in June on a host of charges. They include:
Gersham Grossman, 19, charged with malicious injury to property and malicious damage to a motor vehicle.
Michael Edwards, 18, and Daniel Peterson, 19, charged with malicious injury to property, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery.
Benjamin Knox, 20, charged with malicious injury to property and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
Daniel Coe, 20, charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery.
Jordan O’Neil, 18, charged with two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery.
Homeowners Daniel Abbett and Jill Steidle-Abbett were away in Paris on Feb. 20, 2010, the night of the party. According to police, their 18-year-old son, Alex Steidle, was staying with neighbors and had gone to the house to check on it.
When the couple returned, they discovered blood and urine smeared on the floors and walls, basketball-sized holes in the walls, an antique sofa had been set on fire, marble counter tops were cracked, flour was stuffed down the toilets, doors were pulled down and windows were smashed.
With jewelry, electronics, golf clubs and other goods stolen from the home, police estimated damages at $50,000.
Court documents say a 16-year-old acquaintance showed up at the house and suggested a party. Steidle refused, police say, but hours later, several teens arrived at the house. More followed, having been alerted to the party on the social-networking site Facebook.
Amanda Reed can be reached at [email protected].
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