FARMINGTON — A local man pleaded guilty Monday to allowing minors to possess or consume liquor at a birthday party at the Farmington Community Center.
The state dismissed a misdemeanor charge of criminal mischief against Yussuf Adow, 23, at Franklin County Superior Court.
Adow entered an agreement that delays sentencing for a year and outlines conditions he must meet before returning to court Feb. 10, 2020. If he is successful, he will be able to withdraw his plea to the misdemeanor charge.
A conviction on the charge is punishable by up to 364 days in jail.
Adow is a seasonal employee at the Farmington Community Center, Town Manager Richard Davis wrote in an email.
“The provision of a place for minors to consume alcohol was inadvertent on the part of Yussuf, who is a seasonal employee,” Davis wrote. “His mistake was moving an alcohol-free party to a part of the Community Center (upstairs) in order to access a better sound system. In doing so, he lost the ability to control who had access to the party. A number of uninvited minors then brought alcohol into the building. When he discovered that, Yussuf stopped the party and required everyone to leave.”
Alcohol is allowed at certain Community Center events but, of course, never by minors, Davis wrote.
According to a police report, officers responded to a possible sexual assault at the recreation center late on Sept. 22, 2018, during a birthday party, Farmington Deputy Police Chief Shane Cote said.
The recreation center is also known as the Community Center.
The sexual assault complaint did not involve Adow, he said.
A person reported the assault to University of Maine at Farmington Campus Police Department but because the party was off campus, it was turned over to Farmington police, according to the report, Cote said. No one has been charged in the case, he said.
The rental agreement indicated no alcohol would be at the party, Cote said.
Adow rented the Community Center for the event, according to the report, Cote said.
When party-goers arrived, people were checking to make sure no alcohol was being brought in, he said.
When police arrived there were empty beer containers and beer spilled on the floors. Police issued Adow a summons to appear in court.
“Yussuf is still a seasonal employee,” Davis wrote. “He is a well-intentioned young man who was taken advantage of.”
dperry@sunmediagroup.net
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