California’s ‘Los Gatos party mom’ sentenced to 35 years in prison | US crime
A judge sentenced a San Francisco Bay Area mother to 35 years in prison after she was convicted of a string of felonies stemming from hosting drunken orgies for teenagers.
Shannon O’Connor, 52, widely known as the “Los Gatos party mom” — a nickname referring to her hometown — was convicted in March of four dozen counts, including child endangerment, dissuading witnesses from reporting a crime and facilitating forcible sexual assault. His sentence was the maximum allowed under state law.
O’Connor also must register as a sex offender.
“This is not a fun parent giving their kids sips of wine spritzers,” Santa Clara district attorney Jeff Rosen said. he wrote in a statement. “He facilitated dangerous and drunken sex acts with these children. He risked their lives and damaged their moods. He is not a party mom. Shannon O’Connor is a convicted felon. Shannon O’Connor is a registered sex offender.”
during a series of partiesO’Connor purchased Fireball whiskey, vodka and condoms for the teenagers, mostly ages 14 and 15, letting them drink enough to vomit, then refused to seek medical attention for them. In some cases, he encouraged drunken teenagers to have sex with each other or placed them in rooms together, including when they were too drunk to consent.
Several victims testified in court that they were sexually assaulted or traumatized while in O’Connor’s care.
O’Connor hid her activities from other parents as well as her husband.
“My actions are the cause of your pain and I am ashamed,” he told the court. According to ABC7 Eyewitness News. “And I face it every day knowing that I am the cause of it.”
“I’m not sorry for myself, I’m sorry for all of you and what I’ve put you through,” O’Connor added. “But as I look at all of you today, I hope you will find some solace in knowing that I have been punished and will continue to do so for years to come.”
O’Connor’s lawyer told the court she canceled parties during the isolated times of the Covid-19 pandemic in a bid to improve her son’s social life. According to the Los Angeles Times.
