Geneva students cited for drinking at dance

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GENEVA – Five students were turned away from Geneva High School's homecoming dance after a school official smelled alcohol on their breath, police said Tuesday.

The incident occurred about 7:30 p.m. Oct. 3 at Geneva Community High School, 416 McKinley Ave. According to police reports, a high school dean, Michael Kelly, was checking school IDs at the door when he smelled alcohol on the breath of a student.

Kelly took the student aside, which lead to citations against him and the four students he was with, police said. Another high school dean, Reed Allison, notified police.

The students all were cited for underage drinking and fined $100.

The students receiving the tickets were Nicholas L. Faught, 17, of the 300 block of South Harrison Street; Margaret M. Weinstein, 17, of the 500 block of Bradbury Lane, Geneva; Julia C. Seyller, 17, of the 0S400 block of Branford Lane, Blackberry Township; Cayla L. Makowski, 17, of the 39W400 block of South Matthewson Lane, Blackberry Township; Kylie K. Maynard, 17, of the 1300 block of Fargo Boulevard, Geneva.

Deans Allison and Kelly did not return voicemail messages seeking comment. District 304 spokeswoman Kelley Munch said officials do not comment on student disciplinary matters.

According to the student handbook posted online, students found to be under the influence of and/or in possession of drugs or alcohol cannot attend any school dance until after the corresponding dance the following year. The handbook also states that school officials may assign additional consequences.

Geneva Police Cmdr. Juile Nash said officers found a mixed alcoholic drink in a water bottle in the students' car. The students were released to the custody of their parents following the incident, Nash said.

Police are not investigating how the students obtained the alcohol, or when, Nash said.

"They were not arrested for [driving under the influence] because we cannot determine whether or not they drank it after they arrived or prior to them arriving," Nash said.

"There is no investigation in reference to where the alcohol came from," Nash added. "Basically, they were cited reference the illegal consumption because the officer smelled the odor of alcohol on or about their breath. And the subjects were cooperative, so the officer did not feel the need to do the [portable Breathalyzer] test."