Police: Man would hold underage drinking party again

SIKESTON, Mo. -- A Sikeston man showed no remorse for hosting a high school graduation party Sunday night where there was underage drinking, according to a written incident report by the Sikeston Department of Public Safety.

Mark and Terry Cheatham of 123 Greenbrier Drive were cited by officers for supplying alcohol to minors at a party at their home involving students who graduated earlier Sunday from Notre Dame Regional High School.

In an incident report released Wednesday, officer T. Bartlett wrote that Mark Cheatham said "he didn't care how much it cost him, he would do it again."

Cheatham called several lawyers after public safety officers arrived at his home, Bartlett said in the report.

Officers cited Cheatham, 48, and his wife, Terry Brewer-Cheatham, 47, for a city violation of supplying alcohol to minors.

Citations also were issued to 26 people for city violations of possessing alcohol under the legal age of 21, DPS records show. Officials earlier had reported that 32 people were cited for underage possession of alcohol.

Those cited included residents of several Southeast Missouri communities, including Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Chaffee, Scott City, Benton, Sikeston and Burfordville. Several residents of Cairo, Ill., also were among those who received citations.

Notre Dame principal Brother David Migliorino said Tuesday that 10 students had admitted to him that they attended the graduation party and were ticketed by officers. Migliorino said he was disappointed by the actions of the students and those who hosted the party.

Those cited for underage possession face fines in Sikeston municipal court if convicted, said Department of Public Safety Capt. Mark Crocker.

Crocker said Wednesday authorities may file state charges against the Cheathams. In Missouri, it's a class B misdemeanor for an adult to allow a minor to drink alcoholic beverages on his or property unless the minor is the adult's child. Such violations carry a maximum punishment of six months in the county jail and a $500 fine.

The Cheathams couldn't be reached for comment.

Sikeston city prosecutor Dan Norton refused to discuss the case or talk about possible charges.

Public safety officers were called to the Sikeston home at 11:37 p.m. Sunday where the Cheathams were holding a high school graduation party.

Bartlett said he responded to a complaint about loud music and underage drinking. When he arrived, he saw about 50 party-goers who appeared to be high school students.

"I also noticed a large quantity of alcoholic drinks scattered throughout the yard and on a table on the patio of the residence," Bartlett observed in his report.

He said he saw several party-goers carrying a keg of beer from the patio toward the middle of the yard and that those around the keg and those holding wine coolers or cups of beer told him they were under 21 years of age.

Bartlett said Terry Brewer-Cheatham told him that she felt that the students were going to drink alcoholic beverages and "if they drank at her residence they would not be out driving around or sleeping in a field."

Bartlett wrote, "She also stated she was trying to keep an eye on the kids and had been checking on them periodically."

Brewer-Cheatham denied buying the alcohol for the students and said that she thought the students carried in a lot of the alcohol, he said.

Several party-goers fled when officers arrived at the home. The Cheathams and the remaining students refused to identify those who ran from the scene, Bartlett wrote in his report. He said he also spoke to several parents who refused to identify those who fled the scene.

mbliss@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123