Mom sentenced for raucous house party Mom sentenced for raucous house party (July 27, 2005)

Moser to serve six months for drunken teen gathering at which one kid was beaten

by Alexandria Rocha

A Palo Alto mom is scheduled to begin serving six months in county jail on Friday for hosting a house party last fall at which teenagers were drinking alcohol and one boy was severely beaten by his peers.

Superior Court Judge Diane Northway sentenced Julie Moser, 51, last week for contributing to the delinquency of a minor and accessory to assault with great bodily injury -- convictions that stem from the raucous party she held at her Cherry Oaks Place home Oct. 9.

Besides the six months in county jail, Moser is required to get psychological and substance-abuse counseling.

"You have major problems and you're doing nothing to address them," Northway told the tearful mother of five at her July 21 sentencing. "It's not just your life you're ruining. It's the lives of your children; your reputation in the community. You can't go on with this constant denial, living this chaotic lifestyle that you have embraced."

Moser was not in custody when she received her sentence. She wore professional attire, clutched a tissue and wept nearly the entire time she was in the courtroom. Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Leigh Frazier said Moser has shown no remorse for the victim or his family, nor has she sought any counseling for her substance abuse and psychological problems since the incident.

"I have much, much remorse," Moser told the court. "It was never meant to happen. All this (that) has happened has been harmful. Sometimes I'm a little slow, but I always come through and I want to show that."

On Oct. 9, Moser allowed a group of teenagers to throw a party and drink alcohol at her home. She originally told police she was not there and wasn't aware of the party, however, a few teenagers who were present told police she was home and knew the kids were drinking.

Frazier said Moser was concerned with the level of noise from the party because she didn't want to attract authorities. The night then took a turn for the worse. Between 11 p.m. and midnight, according to police, two boys took another into a back room and beat him until he was unconscious.

One teenaged guest told police that Moser, upon learning of the fight, covered the victim with pillows and blankets, rather than calling for help, said Frazier.

"Many of these kids drank until they were falling down drunk. You've got a 51-year-old woman who sees this, but the victim had to depend on 16 year olds to get him some help," Frazier said.

The boy was taken to a local emergency room, but when he returned home his mother said his face was so brutally mangled that she did not recognize him. The boy has so far had two corrective surgeries on his nose. He is still battling breathing problems and may have to undergo a third surgery this summer. The victim's family has received some restitution for medical bills, but the boy's mother refused to say how much. She also did not say whether a lawsuit against Moser was in the works.

The victim's mother, who is not named to protect her son's identity, said she was pleased with the sentencing.

"It's good that (Moser) does some jail time," she said. "Other parents need to see that it is not alright to give kids alcohol and say that they're better off at home than somewhere else."

In April, just seven months after the unruly party, Moser was arrested for possession and driving under the influence of crack cocaine. She has pleaded not guilty to the charge and will have that hearing on Aug. 16 while in custody.

Richard Keyes, Moser's attorney, said his client suffers from several psychological problems, including a personality disorder, dependency, indecisiveness, confusion and immaturity -- all which he said contributed to Moser's inability to act during the October party.

Her criminal record, Keyes said, started in the early 1970s when she was arrested several times for petty theft and twice for driving under the influence.

Northway also gave Moser three years probation, in which she will have to submit to random drug tests.

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