The Montana man involved in the death of a 17-year-old boy after both were drinking alcohol at a now closed Colusa restaurant last May has rejected a plea deal from the District Attorney that could settle the case with him receiving less time behind bars.
Edward Page, 66, appeared before Colusa County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey A. Thompson on Monday for further arraignment and entry of plea on one felony charge of child endangerment, a special allegation of willful harm or injury resulting in death, and a special allegation of driving with a blood alcohol level greater than .20, along with two other DUI-related misdemeanors.
Page could face up to six years in prison on the single felony charge, with four-year enhancements on the special allegations, if convicted by a jury.
The unidentified juvenile, according to the California Highway Patrol, had been drinking alcohol with Page, a family acquaintance, at Slough House Social, a popular bar and eatery on the Sacramento River on May 19, 2022.
According to video obtained by Sacramento TV station KOVR, servers at Slough House plied the teenager with about 10 alcoholic beverages in the course of 90 minutes, ending with him downing three shots in quick succession.
The video shows he then got into a confrontation with one server, who slapped him in the face, before she helped him walk to the parking lot and get into a pickup truck.
Page drove away and made it down Butte Slough Road about one mile from the bar, when the teen, who was later reported to have a blood alcohol level greater than .20, exited the vehicle while it was moving and sustained fatal injuries from the fall, investigators confirmed.
The teen died at the UC Davis Medical Center, which triggered the State of California Alcohol and Beverage Control to open a Target Responsibility for Alcohol Connected Emergencies investigation immediately after the incident to determine the source of the alcohol that was illegally furnished.
ABC agents determined that three Slough House Social servers repeatedly served alcohol to the minor and Page, according to the March 21 news release from ABC Director Eric Hirata.
ABC filed disciplinary action against Slough House Social for furnishing alcoholic beverages to a minor and service to the obviously intoxicated minor. ABC suspended Slough House’s alcohol license, and gave them 180 days to transfer the license to new holders.
Although the community was saddened by the closure, Slough House was known to not check IDs to serve alcohol to drinkers of questionable age or over-serve its customers.
“Preventing underage drinking and over-intoxication is a public safety priority,” Hirata said in the release. “We want to remind licensees to check IDs and not over-serve patrons to help keep Californians safe.”
Page is facing up to six years in prison for the child endangerment charge and up to four years on each of the special allegations, if convinced by a jury.
On Monday, Colusa County District Attorney Brendan Farrell withdrew his offer to Page to enter a plea that would result in a midterm sentence of four years.
Page, who is represented by local attorney Tedd Mehr, is scheduled for further arraignment and entry of plea on June 5. ■