Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Dollie East sentenced to probation

Clara Garcia News-Bulletin Staff Writer; cgarcia@news-bulletin.com

A woman who police say furnished alcohol to several underage girls at a party where her son physically assaulted several teenage girls last year has been sentenced to probation.

District Judge William Sanchez sentenced 46-year-old Dollie East to three years probation on Tuesday. She pleaded no contest in April to two fourth-degree felony counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. There was no agreement between prosecutors and East's attorney as to sentencing.

In exchange for her change of plea, prosecutors dismissed the remaining charges of giving or selling alcohol to minors, three counts of child abuse and one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

The charges stem from an incident in July 2007 when police were called to the family's home in Las Maravillas regarding their son, Cody East, who was 19 years old at the time. He was arrested and later indicted on charges of aggravated battery against a household member, two county of battery, three counts of child abuse and three counts of contributing to the delinquency of minors.

A jury earlier this month convicted Cody East on three counts of child abuse and one count of battery. The same jury acquitted the former high school star athlete of one count of aggravated battery against a household member and one misdemeanor count of battery. A mistrial was ordered on one other count of aggravated battery resulting in great bodily harm after the jury was deadlocked on that one count.

Police charge that Dollie East took several of the girls to a store and bought the alcohol for the party. Court documents say that both Terry and Dollie East served the alcohol to several of the girls at the party.

East's husband, Terry, is currently on probation after he also pleaded no contest to one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor earlier this month. Terry East was given a conditional discharge, meaning if he successfully completes probation, the felony will be taken off his record.

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