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A 21-year-old Brentwood man is facing charges of purchasing and knowingly supplying alcohol to Laurel Williams before she was killed in a car accident on Foothill Road.
The arrest of Paul Stonebarger was made by Pleasanton police on Monday night. He was taken into custody and booked at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin.
“He was very cooperative with our investigation; he wasn’t holding anything back,” said Sgt. Michael Collins. “My sense is that he has a pretty solid understanding of what this case is all about and he went out of his way to give us all the information we needed.”
The Brentwood man lives in Chico and previously attended Chico State University. A source identified him as a previous love interest of Williams’.
Police were able to implicate Stonebarger through store receipts, video tape and witnesses’ statements.
“We identified him through not only physical evidence and videotape, video surveillance from the store where the alcohol was purchased, but also through cash register receipts confirming the purchase was by him–and also witness statements which were pretty compelling,” Collins said.
“A substantial amount of alcohol” was purchased at a store in Dublin, he said.
The alcohol was served at a party on the evening of Oct. 19.
“Throughout most of the night, it was about seven or eight people,” Collins said of the party’s size. “There could have been as many as 12, 13, 14 people at a time at this party but typically it was eight or nine people.”
The gathering was held at a girl’s father’s house in Pleasanton. The father was out of town at the time and did not know it was going on, Collins said.
Collins declined to discuss a claim that Stonebarger was the person who drove Williams and her friend Katie McKewon to McKewon’s car in Dublin, but added that Stonebarger “didn’t make any mention of them being in any kind of condition that he didn’t feel they could drive in.” In general terms, he said it would be a difficult claim to pursue.
McKewon was the driver of a Ford Mustang that crashed head-on into a Mercedes SUV the morning after the party, killing Williams, who was the passenger. McKewon was arrested Nov. 7 for gross vehicular manslaughter and felony drunk driving.
Collins said the driver of the Mercedes, Nancy Bressen, has a serious shoulder injury and is recovering.
Police don’t expect to make any additional arrests in the case.
“There’s still some people we need to talk to but I think at this point, I don’t think we’re expecting to make any more arrests on this,” Collins said.
He added that Williams was not unconscious when she got in McKewon’s car. “We have no reason to think that she was put into the car,” he said. “All the interviews we’ve had with people would contradict that.”
If Stonebarger is convicted of the charges, he could face six months to a year in jail, in addition to a substantial fine.
Collin said the arrest spreads the message to teens that they will be held responsible for illegal behavior.
“It’s important to realize that if you act irresponsibly, there are consequences and potentially, you could be held responsible for those actions,” he said.
Geeze! Another one if you go to his Myspace page, all the pics BOOZE, BOOZE BOOZE, is this all kids know to do anymore, the girls all look the same, the less clothes the better, they drink until their brain freezes and that’s it???? Sad…Sad…Sad…..!!!
The rumors are all being clarified. It looks like Laurel was nto unconscious when she got in the car.
I have never bought boo’s for anyone underage or if an underage person has a fake ID- I’m 26 btw and have had numerous kids ask. If you have the balls to do that then you’re an idiot. Just cus you were the “lucky” one doesn’t mean it’s gonna happen next time. Why even waste your time buying alcohol for underage kids? If you’re 21 and drinking, get over the fact that you’re not 18 and grow up. Completely stupid. And ya it is a sad fact that even if this kid didn’t buy the alcohol for them, somebody else would have. But this mentality of “we are luck the ones” is what causes this happen- you are telling teenagers that it’s ok if someone elses buys it for us.
I admit that I drank before I was 21 and obviously someone of age did buy it for us. It’s a shame though that underage drinkers don’t fully understand the consequences about drinking or the fact that they just don’t care. I didn’t care back then; I never had someone say “You can’t drink and if you do there can be hell to pay if you get caught.” More people should open there mouths to teenage drinkers instead of keeping it “hush hush.” And DARE doesn’t do much. All I remember was seeing a board with drugs or picutres on it thinking “Hmm I wonder what that’s like.” Hopefully nothing like this will happen again.
Yes, the blame game is in full force. With that in mind let’s add another eligible party for blame. The parents of the girl who’s home it was at. They did not know anything about the party.
WHEN are parents going to realize that you don’t leave your teens alone while you are out of town. We’ve watched this for years. Every teen knows whose parents are gone and thus…the party.
If we hold the purchaser accountable…ethically we should hold these parents as well. We have n e v e r left our teens home alone. The only time we left we notified the neighbors and the police AND we had the kids at designated friend’s homes and talked with those parents about the situation. PREVENTION is all I’m asking for.
Parents who do this…get your heads out of your own lives and deal with the teens you’ve brought into this world. Teens often need more attention than toddlers but you wouldn’t know this when looking at all the parentless homes where the parties are occuring.
And by the way, if it wasn’t Paul…there would have been someone else supplying it. Even the girls themselves with the many fake ID’s out there.
It is a ‘no brainer’ to get alcohol.
they would have gotten the booz anywhere, anyhow. it’s not a hard thing to do. I’ve never personally bought for a minor, except when i was a minor with a fake ID. concern for the 2 people in jail should be had. it was a terrible thing that happend. but if people are just looking to point the finger of blame, point it right back at yourselves. who hasn’t. we were simply the lucky ones. but he did not force them to drink, they sought him, and if not him it would have been someone else…
26 is my age as well. it just seems hypocritical for people to be so angry at a kid that bought his friends alchohal. i had a fake ID, i bought tons of alchohal before i was 21. but haven’t boughten any alchohal for minors since 21. it is not worth it. i definately agree. but he shouldn’t be put in jail for 6 months to a year for it. maybe some probation. if the accident didn’t happen thats all that would happen.a fine and probation. In school we all had alot of fun, and made some mistakes. so did they. dare is worthless. all it did was make me curious. parents, and acceptence would end alot of problems, or figuring out a way to eliminate underage drinking which is impossible. if these kids knew they could call people for a ride or used proper judgement with there decisions this could have been avoided. but the what if game is rediculous. bad decisions is why this happend. not cause my or others peoples mentality carried to these kids. they were college students. college students drink. i have lost friends to drunk driving, it is terrible. but we live and we learn. this is very sad but i think this guy deserves the minimum sentence, a fine and probation. he should be out of jail. as for the poor girl in jail now. i hope she is getting the emotional help in there that she needs. though i know that is not happening.
Someone made a comment on one of the articles about the crash, I believe it was the first or second article (so probably about 10/25 – 11/2) in which they mentioned a book about forgiveness that they suggested both families read. I cannot remember who posted it or what the book was and would really like to know. Please comment again and let me know what the book was.
Thanks.
(comment removed by PW staff)
(comment removed by PW staff)
Hey everyone,
(portion removed by PW staff) It’s not easy to get a fake id, unless the person(s)have an older sibling,older friend or pay high $$$$$.I’m sure your teens have one or know someone who does. I’m sure your teens aren’t that perfect. All teens have that rebble stage. I’m sure you did when you were there age.
These terrible wrecks happen every year, why is this one so populer.. I don’t understand. I knew many friends that were in both situations and they were never in the news.
Most people in this town are morning and that is normal, because you did know these young kids and there families. For the rest of us who don’t know them, its time to move on. Let everyone be in peace.
it is very easy for underage people to get id’s. i know my friends and i all had them. we went to clubs, liquor stores, gas stations, drug stores, grocery stores, bars, anywhere. they were good. and very accessible. i know it’s been some years since then but if the dmv can make it so can these kids with their computers.