On Nov. 6 in McLean, a backyard gathering intended for a handful of classmates ballooned into a massive party with hundreds of teenagers, drawing Fairfax County police to the neighborhood.
Lisa Vaughan, 45, and Aubrey Vaughan, 55, now face criminal charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and maintaining a common nuisance, Fox News reported.
The couple maintains their innocence, according to their attorney, who said that an invitation intended for just 10 to 20 classmates spread rapidly to older students.
“There will be no more,” Aubrey Vaughan told FOX 5 DC, referring to the party for their sons. “We’re done.”
Police Response and Neighborhood Fallout
Police responded to multiple 911 calls around 9:03 p.m. reporting an out-of-control gathering. Based on police reports, individuals who phoned authorities estimated that a crowd numbering anywhere from 100 to 300 participants had assembled at the residence, where arriving law enforcement personnel found a massive assembly alongside exploding fireworks.
Expressing remorse to nearby residents, Aubrey Vaughan stated he felt “embarrassed” regarding the unexpected speed with which the event escalated beyond their control. FOX 5 reported that he and his spouse even instructed their 13-year-old sons to visit neighboring houses personally to offer apologies after law enforcement cleared the property.
Legal counsel for the family explained that although the pair originally designed a modest get-together for eighth graders, the digital flyer was shared across Snapchat and eventually made its way to pupils at a nearby high school, drawing in unwanted adolescents.
Aubrey Vaughan said that he possessed “zero idea” that older students would arrive, adding that both he and his wife faced great difficulty blocking them from entering their home and backyard.
Vaughan Disputes Claims of Underage Drinking
Police described the gathering as an “underage drinking party,” but Vaughan disputed suggestions that alcohol was permitted. He mentioned to FOX 5 that the notice explicitly banned both bags and alcoholic beverages, and that he and his wife maintained active supervision throughout the entirety of the event.
In his assessment, Aubrey Vaughan calculated that the entire ordeal lasted roughly 45 minutes, noting that he recognized the situation was slipping away approximately 10 to 15 minutes prior to the arrival of officers.
“They wanted to maintain a safe place, free from alcohol, for kids to have a good time, but they had no control about all the kids that arrived and caused chaos in their neighborhood,” the couple’s attorney, Alaric Piette, told FOX 5.
According to Piette, the homeowners greeted the arriving officers and invited them to check the party zone, an offer that law enforcement ultimately turned down. Both parents later turned themselves in and were released on $1,000 unsecured bonds each.
Police Chief Warns Parents About Hosting Large Gatherings
Chief of Police Kevin Davis of Fairfax County addressed the complex decisions caregivers confront when weighing whether to host events at home instead of permitting adolescents to congregate elsewhere completely unmonitored.
“I think it’s universally a bad idea to host anything at a home,” Davis said, warning that large gatherings involving alcohol, drugs or reckless behavior can quickly become dangerous.
The police chief emphasized that “parents have to be parents” and “adults have to be adults,” warning that good intentions can have unintended consequences.
In contrast, Aubrey Vaughan shared that he felt thankful toward law enforcement for assisting in clearing out the attendees and stated he holds no ill will toward the officers who responded.
“The lesson is just make sure you’re watching Snapchat,” Aubrey Vaughan told FOX 5.
