OLD FORGE -- Police in Lackawanna County say two teenagers were invited to a party earlier this year that involved drugs, drinking, and strip poker. Now the adults who were at that party back in January are facing felony charges.
Four adults were arrested Thursday afternoon and are charged with corruption of minors for involving a 13 year old and 15 year old brother and sister in a party where they all smoked marijuana, drank alcohol, and played strip poker.
It was the teenagers' mother who eventually found out about the party and called police.
Estella Oakley, 33, and Michael Watson, 32, were the first two of four people to be arrested by Old Forge police in a four-month long corruption of minors investigation.
According to police, Oakley and Watson hosted a party at the apartment they share on Dunn Avenue in Old Forge. The pair had alcohol and marijuana, two adult guests, and a 13 year old and 15 year old. Police say they all ended up playing strip poker.
The two adult guests also face corruption of minors charges: Danielle Gallagher, 19, a student at Old Forge High School, and her boyfriend Robert Kozarek, 19.
"I was intoxicated, you know. I went through with it and I really shouldn't have. I feel really bad about it," said Kozarek. "They didn't force it, but if I had a sober mind, I would never have done it."
"Did you know how old the kids were?"
"They are my cousins," Kozarek replied. "We weren't, like, stripped. We were just playing a little game. We were playing poker at first and the one female and the other male, they wanted to play strip poker. I wasn't really down with it, but they were like, 'No, just play. Everyone else is playing.' I was like, 'Alright, I'll play.' I felt a little forced, but I still went through with it."
"One of the children went home and advised their parent about what occurred that evening. And the parent contacted police and it stemmed from there. Through the long investigation we are here today with the four arrests," said Old Forge Police Chief Jason Dubernas.
The four people facing charges are being arraigned on corruption of minors charges.