A man accused of hosting a party for high school students, which consisted of alcohol, a stripper pole and a sex room, pleaded guilty Tuesday to much lesser charges than the judge expected, reports The Morning Call.
Steven A. Russo, 37, of Bethlehem Township hosted a party and set up a room in his home he called “the cave” for teens to have sex in, students told police. More than a dozen teens, ages 14 to 16, attended and drank alcohol provided by Russo on Dec. 12, says Assistant District Attorney Patricia Broscius.
The case was brought to light after a teacher at Freedom High School -- where Russo’s son is a student -- found scandalous photos of teenage girls, one of whom was in a cheerleader outfit, at the party.
Russo pleaded guilty to three misdemeanor charges of corruption of minors, furnishing minors with alcohol and endangering the welfare of a child, in exchange for the DA’s office dropping 23 other counts. The judge called it a “sweetheart deal,” reports The Morning Call.
Russo’s plea came a week after he was convicted of stalking an ex-girlfriend.
''The fact pattern suggests that you may be a predator, and that's a real concern to me,'' Northampton County Judge Stephen Baratta said.
''Please know that I continue with the concern about who you are and whether you are a risk and a danger to the community,'' Baratta said. ''If my concerns are borne out, you're going to get a jail sentence.''
Russo’s sentencing is set for Dec. 1.
Read this story and more right on your iPhone. Download the NBCPhiladelphia app NOW!
