Shannon O'Connor, Known as The 'Party Mom' of Los Gatos, Denies Accusations of Providing alcohol To Minors and Promoting Underage Sexual activities

A mother from Los Gatos, Shannon O'Connor, pleaded not guilty in court on Monday morning after facing a grand jury indictment with more than 60 counts last week. O'Connor, 49, was arraigned on 20 felonies and 43 misdemeanors, including allegations of providing alcohol to minors as young as 14 years old, resulting in severe intoxication and instances of sexual abuse.

Deputy District Attorney Rebekah Wise, handling the case, highlighted the serious nature of the accusations, revealing that multiple children were rendered unconscious from alcohol intoxication, some vomiting and some allegedly subjected to sexual abuse while unconscious, with one suffering from broken bones.

O'Connor, dressed in a green jail uniform, quietly entered the courtroom and took a front-row seat during the proceedings. 

The alleged incidents occurred over an 11-month period in 2020, and the case experienced several delays, leading to the filing of seven new charges against O'Connor, including felony sexual assault, felony dissuading a witness, and additional child endangerment.

While there was a proposed plea deal offering a 17-year sentence, O'Connor's legal team opted to proceed to trial. The latest indictment followed testimony from about 17 victims before the grand jury, detailing how the events had devastatingly impacted their lives.

The district attorney's decision to employ a grand jury indictment for the arraignment phase poses challenges for the defense, as the defense won't have the opportunity to cross-examine the victims and witnesses during a preliminary hearing. Instead, they will have to rely on the grand jury transcript to prepare for trial.

Shannon O'Connor is currently detained at the Elmwood Women's Complex in Milpitas, with a court appearance scheduled for December 20 to confirm her counsel, and a potential trial date may be set.

 

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