A former Vandergrift woman will spend up to 23 months in jail for hosting an alcohol-fueled party in which a 16-year-old died after drinking too much.
Diane Rose Adorante, 40, of Arnold was sentenced Thursday for her role in the Jan. 15, 2007, death of Samantha Lynn Scheuring of Vandergrift. She died of alcohol poisoning after attending a party at Adorante's home.
Adorante previously pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of involuntary manslaughter and furnishing alcohol to minors.
Westmoreland County Judge Richard E. McCormick Jr. yesterday imposed a sentence of 11 1/2 to 23 months in jail and another two years on probation.
"You had a legal obligation to do something about it, and you didn't. That's what this is all about," McCormick said. "You have to accept you were an irresponsible adult."
Authorities said Adorante was at home at various times during the Jan. 14 birthday party, which several juveniles attended.
At the party, Scheuring drank large amounts of vodka, rum and beer and first became ill around about 6:30 p.m. She lost consciousness at about 9 p.m. and died three hours later. An autopsy report said she died of alcohol poisoning.
Her blood-alcohol level was 0.44 percent, more than five times the level at which an adult motorist is considered to be intoxicated in Pennsylvania.
Scheuring's mother yesterday said her daughter's safety at the party was Adorante's responsibility.
"She should have treated Sam as a daughter and got her the medical assistance she needed," Lisa Marie Ordean said.
Ordean said she did not know her daughter was at the party at Adorante's home. Instead, she was to visit another friend that night.
Westmoreland County District Attorney John Peck prosecuted the case against Adorante and said adults should be held accountable for putting juveniles in dangerous situations.
"Adults have the responsibility to supervise and oversee to make sure minors aren't consuming alcohol, because it can have dire consequences, like it did in this case," Peck said.
Adorante apologized for her actions in court yesterday but told the judge she was not the person who provided the alcohol for the party.
Two men were charged with that offense.
Michael Alan Baker, 22, of Vandergrift pleaded guilty earlier this month to furnishing alcohol to minors and was sentenced to serve one year of probation. The case against David James Leone, 26, of Leechburg, also accused of giving the juveniles alcohol, is pending.
Adorante pleaded guilty yesterday to drunken driving. She was arrested three months after Scheuring died when police stopped her while driving in Vandergrift. Her blood-alcohol level after her arrest was 0.169 percent.
For the drunken driving offense, McCormick ordered her to serve three days to 12 months in jail concurrently with her involuntary manslaughter sentence.
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