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NH Woman Could Face Charges After Underage Drinking Party

PELHAM, NH (CBS) - An underage drinking party Saturday night at a home in Pelham, New Hampshire has the hostess in trouble.

An angry parent called 911 when he showed up at the Monument Hill Road home looking for his son.

"He asked to speak to the adult in charge," said Pelham Police Sgt. Anne Perriello.

"There was a female that approached him at the door, invited him in, asked him if he wanted to join the party, he exchanged a few words with her," said Sgt. Perriello.

The police have identified the woman as 47-year-old Sandra Whiting who was hosting a graduation party for her niece.

Police say at least 35 minors were in the home. The parent who called 911 stopped at least two impaired teenagers from driving away.

"There was a graduation party here," said a relative of the homeowner outside the home Monday.

Police say they found five large bags of empty alcohol bottles and cans that were hidden in the basement, along with a funnel, a marijuana grinder, a glass bong and a marijuana joint.

Investigators had to get a search warrant because the homeowner and her family would not let them in. They found several minors sleeping in the attic and the living room.

"You could smell alcohol and marijuana emitting from the house," said Sgt. Perriello. "They were highly intoxicated when we were speaking with them."

Some guests tried to jump out of windows and flee when police arrived but officers set up a perimeter. They also used license plates to track down parents and told them to pick up their kids.

Kathy Koch says her 16-year-old son was at the party. "He just said it was really crazy," said Koch.

"I don't think they were doing anything that he hasn't seen before. You send them off and you hope they come back safe and the last thing I would do is supply alcohol or anything like that to kids," said Koch.

Some of the minors will be cited.

Police say the party host--Sandra Whiting--will be arrested this week.

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