WATE.COM July 25, 2007

LOUDON COUNTY (WATE) -- A Loudon County couple who was charged with providing alcohol to minors at their daughter's after-prom party is off the hook, at least for now.  

The DA has agreed to drop the charges against Jack and Katherine Butturini as long as they obey the law for the next 10 months.    

Twenty underage drinkers were arrested at the Butturini's home in May. Each attended a class and picked up litter for a day to avoid charges.

West Knox County couple gets diversion in alcohol case

Butturinis charged with violations at Farragut prom party

News Sentinel staff

The West Knox County couple charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor and providing alcohol to a minor agreed to a pretrial diversion today in Loudon County General Sessions Court.

If Jack and Katharine Butturini do not break any laws, with exception of minor traffic violations, and do not have any further incidents of parties involving underage drinking in the next 10 months, the charges will be dropped June 1, 2008.

District Attorney General Russell Johnson and Joe Hoffer, attorney for the Butturinis, released the details of the agreement in a press release today.

The Butturinis were charged May 6 after authorities broke up a party following the Farragut High School prom at the couple’s Loudon County waterfront house. Police said there were nearly 50 young adults inside the Butturinis’ home and that the property and surrounding areas were strewn with beer cans and bottles.

The couple has previously said they did not provide alcohol to anyone and that the troublemakers at the party were not invited guests.

In late May, the 19 teenagers charged with underage drinking also reached a pretrial diversion in exchange for written statements and potential testimony. Pending completion of a four-month diversionary period, a two-hour underage drinking class and six hours of community service, the teens’ cases will be dropped.

More details as they develop online and in Thursday’s News Sentinel.