East Goshen Father, Son Charged in Underage St. Paddy's Party

An East Goshen father and son were arrested for hosting a party for underage drinkers over the St. Patrick’s Day weekend, Westtown-East Goshen Police are reporting.

Police arrested Raymond Bonnett, 46, and Elliott Bonnett, 18, and charged them with two counts of felony interference with the custody of children, 16 counts of endangering the welfare of children, 16 counts of corruption of minors, and 18 counts of selling or furnishing liquor to minors, according to WEGO Lieutenant William Cahill.

On Saturday at 11:17 p.m., Westtown-East Goshen Police received a report of an underage drinking party with illegal drug use inside a home on the 1600 block of Bow Tree Drive in East Goshen.

Police say they arrived at the residence to find several vehicles parked near this home and people who appeared to be minors holding beer bottles standing in the yard. When police approached, two individuals ran back inside the residence and one remained outside.  Police say they continued toward the home and saw numerous minors inside. Most appeared to be drinking alcoholic beverages from beer bottles and plastic cups.

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Though a young man in a green shirt told them to leave, police say they remained on location and attempted to make contact with the homeowner by telephone.

Shortly thereafter, police say a parent pulled up and explained that his 16-year-old daughter was inside the party and he wanted her to come outside.  The girl refused to leave the residence, but police learned that the young man wearing the green t-shirt was Elliott Bonnett, 18, the son of the homeowner Raymond Bonnett, 46.  Police say they also determined that Raymond Bonnett was inside the home and was present for the underage drinking party.

A second parent pulled up and told police that his 15-year-old daughter was inside and that he was unable to make contact with her, according to police.

For more than one hour, police say they tried to make contact with Bonnett, before finally entering the residence due to concern for the safety of the young attendees who would not respond to their parents.  Once inside, police say they located one juvenile unconscious and covered in vomit in the basement of the home. Police called EMS from Goshen Fire Co., which responded to assist the boy. Police located a total of 19 individuals under 21 in the home, all of whom had consumed some amount of alcoholic beverage. Police determined that 17 individuals of the 19 partygoers were under the age of 18 and that the youngest person present was just 14 years old.

Parents were contacted to respond and take custody of their children. Police say each of the underage partygoers will be issued a citation for underage drinking.

After being arrested and charged, Raymond Bonnett and Elliott Bonnett were arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Seavey and sent to Chester County Prison after failing to post $20,000 cash bail.  A preliminary hearing is scheduled before Magisterial District Judge Darlington on March 27.