A ‘party mom’ has been accused of bribing her son and his teen friends with alcohol so they could have sex with inebriated ladies.
Shannon O’Connor, of California, is accused of hosting risqué sex parties for her 15-year-old son and his pals at her $4.7 million (£3.75 million) home, and faces up to 20 years in jail.
The mother has been held without bail since her arrest in October 2021, having chosen to go to trial rather than plead guilty.
Prosecutors believe O’Connor taught the youngsters how to lie, used presents to entice them, and encouraged them to binge drink and engage in underage sex for her own amusement.
If O’Connor pled guilty, the court said she would be sentenced to 17 years and four months in jail.
According to the alleged victims, some of whom were as young as 13, O’Connor would befriend them while they were freshmen at Los Gatos High School through her children and social media.
Prosecutors claim the mother was throwing parties for her son and his friends, presenting them with drink, and pushing them to engage in nonconsensual sexual interactions.
O’Connor’s counsel had previously stated that they are seeking a jail term of no more than eight years and may be willing to amend her plea to guilty.
With good behavior, she might be released in as little as four years.
Her lawyers have not provided any witnesses or evidence to support their client.
O’Connor faces up to 20 years in jail if convicted on all 39 counts.
One of the alleged victims, Jane Doe 8, stated in court that O’Connor ‘tore my life apart.’
She said: “I have suffered and had to deal with the reputation of being ‘the girl that got raped.’ I will live my high school years with this cloud over me.
“She is a con-artist. I will never have the life I once had. And neither should she.”
KRON reported that boys would drunkenly sexually assault the girls while O’Connor watched.
The mum of another victim, Jane Doe 4, described O’Connor as a “very sick individual and a sexual predator”.
The parties were apparently held in O’Connor’s 5,122-square-foot Los Gatos property, which was recently advertised for sale for $4.7 million (£3.75 million).
As a result of the occurrences, the alleged victims have experienced despair, self-harm, and stalking.
A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for August 21.