Shannon O’Connor, a 51-year-old California woman, was recently convicted of 48 criminal charges for hosting parties at her Los Gatos home where she provided alcohol to teenagers and encouraged them to engage in sexual activities while intoxicated. Prosecutors referred to her as a “party mom” and stated that the majority of the teens at these parties were 14 and 15 years old, with some being too drunk to consent to sex.
O’Connor was found guilty of felony child abuse charges, including two felony sex offenses, after a jury trial where 20 young adults and 41 witnesses testified. The parties took place between June 2020 and May 2021, during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Prosecutors revealed that O’Connor bought and distributed alcohol, including vodka and Fireball whiskey, to minors at these gatherings. She also allegedly provided condoms to the teenagers and warned them not to disclose the parties.
During one of the parties on New Year’s Eve, O’Connor reportedly stood by and watched as one intoxicated teenager sexually assaulted a minor girl in a bed, even laughing as the assault occurred. In another instance, she led a drunk teen to a 14-year-old girl who was intoxicated and lying on a bed, resulting in the girl being sexually assaulted. The court filings also mentioned an incident where O’Connor gave a teen a condom and pushed him into a bedroom with an intoxicated teen.
The teens who attended these parties often became severely intoxicated to the point of vomiting, being unable to stand, and losing consciousness. O’Connor would allegedly contact the teens via text or Snapchat at night to invite them to her home for alcohol. In one dangerous incident, she allowed a teen to drive her car in the parking lot of Los Gatos High School, resulting in one of the teens falling and losing consciousness after holding onto the back of the car.
Despite the jury’s verdict, O’Connor’s defense attorney expressed deep disappointment in the decision. O’Connor is now facing a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, with her sentencing scheduled for March 26. The Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen commended the bravery of the teens who came forward to speak out against O’Connor’s actions and put an end to the dangerous and unlawful parties she hosted.
