The New Canaan family facing criminal charges following an underage drinking party at their Oenoke Ridge Road home cooperated fully with police on the night of the incident and afterwards, according to an attorney representing the father arrested in the case.
New Canaan-based attorney Matthew Maddox said that [a New Canaan man] and his family allowed police into their home on March 25 to capture photographs and video at the scene.
The [a New Canaan man’s family] “even offered to provide their own camera to police when the police camera was on the fritz,” Maddox told NewCanaanite.com.
“This is a really complicated case with an unusually large number of witnesses interviewed, statements taken. But there remains other investigation that the defense is undertaking and that in due diligence I have to undertake for my work. There are questions that still need to be exhausted here on behalf of my client. There is extensive video footage from body cameras and other video evidence that is still pending for production to the defense that is going to require review and examination. And while [a New Canaan man’s family] have felt huge compassion for Robby [Jones] Jr. and the Jones family, due diligence still needs to be completed before we can talk about an appropriate conclusion to the case.”
Maddox referred to a 17-year-old New Canaan juvenile who had sustained a serious injury at the party.
[The New Canaan man] , who was not home as the party at his house got underway, is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday in state Superior Court in Norwalk on a charge of interfering with an emergency call, brought by police after their investigation showed that he had instructed attendees at the party to not phone authorities.
His 18-year-old son, charged with providing alcohol to minors and permitting a minor to possess alcohol, two weeks ago received approval from the court to enter a program that will see charges dropped next year if he completes it. Both men were arrested by warrant on May 19.
During the younger [a New Canaan man’s] arraignment, a defense attorney and judge both voiced concern that the arrested men had been depicted unfairly in media reports.
Maddox echoed that sentiment.
“Cases should not be tried in the press,” he said. “And speaking about the nature and quality of evidence damages the integrity of the judicial process. Which is why I’m not commenting on the legal theory here against my client or the specific evidence in the case.”
[Editor’s Note: Names have been removed from this article as charges were dropped.]