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California’s infamous “party mom” is now staring down a potential 30-year prison sentence after being convicted of organizing alcohol-laden sex gatherings for teenagers.
After a dramatic three-month trial, 51-year-old Shannon O’Connor from Los Gatos was found guilty on Wednesday. She faced 48 felony charges, which included sexual battery, child endangerment, and providing alcohol to minors.
“As parents, we have a duty to safeguard children — our own and those of others,” Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen stated to the press outside the courthouse on Wednesday.
“This individual exploited, manipulated, and harmed children, both emotionally and physically, for her twisted motives,” he added.
“Each child who took the stand led to the jury convicting the defendant on charges related to that child,” Rosen noted.
O’Connor, who maintained her innocence, was accused of orchestrating illicit sex parties for a group of teens, including her son, at her Los Gatos home and in vacation rentals throughout the 2020-2021 school year.
Widespread sexual assaults took place under her supervision, where she was accused of plied teens with copious amounts of alcohol and watched as they engaged in lewd acts for her own disturbing amusement.
One of the alleged victims had told the court there was “no escape” from the boozy bashes, where teenage girls were treated like “sex objects.”
The girl, who testified at O’Connor’s trial under the name “Jane Doe 6,” recounted how the mom looked on as teens engaged in lewd sex acts inside her lavish $4 million San Jose mansion.
Most of O’Connor’s guests were 14-year-old freshmen from Los Gatos High School, where boys treated girls like “sex objects,” Doe 6 testified.
“I was assaulted, and my friends were assaulted multiple times,” she told the jury.
The convicted mom’s attorney, Stephen Prekoski, said his client was “crushed” and “very disappointed” by the verdict while speaking to reporters.
“I don’t think I can say it any better than that,” Preksoski added.
O’Connor is due back in court for final sentencing March 26.