COLUMBIANA CO. 3 adults to be tried in death of teen girl

Authorities say the teen attended a party where alcohol was provided.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- Three adults accused of enabling a 16-year-old girl to get alcohol are scheduled to stand trial in the March 2002 traffic accident that caused her death.
To be tried together starting Tuesday in Columbiana County Common Pleas Court are Joseph McCallister, 22, of Salem Township; and Travis Bolton, 31, and Wanita Bolton, 30, both of Hanoverton. The Boltons are married; McCallister is Wanita Bolton's brother.
All three, who are free on bond, are charged with involuntary manslaughter, a third-degree felony that carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
McCallister also is charged with five first-degree misdemeanor counts of furnishing beer or intoxicating liquor to a minor.
The Boltons also are charged with five first-degree misdemeanor counts of offenses involving underage people.
The misdemeanor offenses will be heard as part of the involuntary manslaughter trial, county Prosecutor Robert Herron said Thursday.
Each of the misdemeanors carries a maximum six-month jail sentence.
Party at home
Prosecutors say the Boltons had a party at their home March 1, 2002. At the time, the Boltons lived next to McCallister on Teegarden Road in Salem Township.
Lisa Groner attended the party, as did at least four other people too young to drink, prosecutors say. Their ages ranged from 17 to 20.
After leaving the party, Lisa was driving eastbound on Teegarden around 11:44 p.m. when her vehicle went off the road at a curve and struck a tree, killing her.
Authorities allege that McCallister and the Boltons helped cause Lisa's death.
McCallister is accused of furnishing the alcohol consumed by Lisa and other underage partygoers.
The Boltons are accused of providing a place for the underage drinking to occur, Herron has said.
Authorities have not described the relationship among the partygoers.
Judge C. Ashley Pike is to hear the case. A pretrial hearing to resolve any outstanding motions was to be held at 1 p.m. today in common pleas court.
Herron said he expects the trial to go forward Tuesday.