``we're Encouraging Each Other To Act Up, In Very Ladylike Fashion.'' 
Red Heads Have More Fun

17 Middle Schoolers Involved With Pills, Official Says 
W. Hazleton Student Accused Of Bringing Amphetamine To School And Two Others
Who Distributed It To Classmates May Be Expelled.

By MICHAEL McNARNEY mmcnarney@leader.net
 Wednesday, February 14, 2001 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 9A 





WEST PITTSTON - Arguing that police violated the U.S. Constitution,
attorneys asked a district justice Tuesday to throw out evidence of a Jan. 13
underage beer bash. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Eric Randazzo of Sharpe Street, Wyoming, was charged with three counts of
corruption of minors and seven counts of furnishing alcohol to minors. Police
said they entered Randazzo's home at 413 Tunkhannock Ave., West Pittston, and
discovered the underage drinking. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Attorney Michael Pendolphi argued officers did not have enough evidence of
a crime for them to enter the home without a warrant. Police argued that they
suspected an underage drinking party or burglary because they believed the
home was abandoned. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 District Justice Carmen Maffei of West Pittston has not ruled on the case. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Charged with underage alcohol possession, according to Maffei and to
attorneys involved, are: Janelle Price, Gene Turchetti, David Hergan, Mollie
James and Anna Battista. Police have said that all are students at Wyoming
Area High School. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Exeter Police Sgt. Leonard Galli testified he saw people near the home just
before 2 a.m. Jan. 13 and radioed West Pittston police officer Ken Burkhart.
The two arrived at the home and found it dark, with no furniture or curtains. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Burkhart said he eventually saw someone in the house, prompting police to
go inside - where they discovered Randazzo and the others. Burkhart said he
thought the home was abandoned because a Dumpster was outside and a sale sign
was in the yard. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Randazzo's mother, Frances, testified the family was in the process of
selling the home and her son was sleeping there for a week and a half so the
home would not sit vacant. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Eric Randazzo testified he was scared when he saw people looking in the
windows of the home. He said police never identified themselves; Galli said
officers repeatedly shouted ``police,'' and knocked on doors for 10 minutes
before entering. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Pendolphi argued police did not have enough probable cause to enter the
home without a warrant, and violated the Constitution's amendment prohibiting
unreasonable searches. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Galli argued he and the other officers had enough evidence to authorize
their entry. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``I understand that underage drinking is quote, unquote, not a serious
crime,'' Galli said. ``But it's mainly what 18-year-olds are found dead
from.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

West Pittston Search Unlawful, Alcohol Defendant Says