Mom Liquors Up Girls During Sleepover

(Kansas City, Missouri) A 44-year-old local mom, Karen Christine Downs, has pleaded guilty to supplying young teenage girls with alcohol during an overnight birthday party in February 2009.

Police were called to Downs’ residence in the 1600 block of Northwest 55th Terrace in Kansas City, North, after a noise complaint.

Officers found six 13- or 14-year old girls. The girls were at the home for a birthday party and admitted they had been drinking heavily. One of the girls said she had beer and nine or 10 shots of vodka.

The girl who chugged vodka and a 13-year-old girl who had passed out were taken to a hospital to be checked for alcohol poisoning. Police said they found at least 70 empty beer bottles and empty vodka and bourbon bottles in the basement.

Downs gave her daughter the vodka bottle to see how long she could chug it while another girl counted, according to court documents.

When they ran out of alcohol, another woman, Kelsee Guest, allegedly asked the girls if they had money to buy another bottle of vodka. Downs, Guest and one of the girls then allegedly bought more vodka.

Kelsee Guest is scheduled for trial in October on a charge of felony endangerment. Downs is scheduled for sentencing on July 8. Her lawyer seeks probation.