A Virginia couple who hoped to provide a safe backyard gathering for their 13-year-old sons and a small group of classmates instead found themselves facing criminal charges after the event grew into a chaotic party involving hundreds of teenagers, fireworks and a police response.
Lisa Vaughan, 45, and Aubrey Vaughan, 55, were charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor and maintaining a common nuisance after Fairfax County police responded to their McLean home on Nov. 6. The couple denies wrongdoing. Their attorney said an invitation meant for 10 to 20 classmates spread to older students.
“There will be no more,” Aubrey Vaughan told FOX 5 DC, referring to parties for their sons. “We’re done.”
Lisa Vaughan, 45, and Aubrey Vaughan, 55, face charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and maintaining a common nuisance in connection with the gathering. (Fairfax County Police Department)
Police said they received multiple 911 calls at about 9:03 p.m. reporting a party that had gotten out of control. Callers estimated that between 100 and 300 people were at the home, where officers found a large crowd and fireworks being set off.
Aubrey Vaughan apologized to neighbors and said he was “embarrassed” by how rapidly the gathering escalated. According to FOX 5, he and his wife later had their 13-year-old sons go door-to-door to apologize after police cleared the area.
Police body-camera footage shared on social media shows Lisa Vaughan outside the family’s home speaking with responding officers. (Fairfax County Police Department)
The family’s attorney said the Vaughans had planned a small eighth-grade gathering, but the invitation circulated on Snapchat and eventually reached students at a nearby high school. Uninvited teenagers then began arriving.
Aubrey Vaughan said he had “zero idea” that high school students would attend and that he and his wife struggled to keep the unexpected crowd out of the house and backyard.
Police characterized the event as an “underage drinking party,” but Vaughan disputed the claim that alcohol was allowed. He told FOX 5 that the invitation expressly banned alcohol and bags, and said he and his wife remained at home supervising throughout the gathering.
Responding officers found a large crowd of teenagers at the home while fireworks were being set off. (Fairfax County Police Department)
Vaughan estimated that the incident lasted about 45 minutes. He said he realized the situation was becoming unmanageable roughly 10 to 15 minutes before officers arrived.
“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.
Piette said the parents welcomed the officers and offered to let them inspect the party area, but police declined. Both parents later surrendered and were released on $1,000 unsecured bonds each.
Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis recognized the difficult decision parents face when considering whether to host teenagers at home instead of allowing them to socialize elsewhere without adult supervision.
“I think it’s universally a bad idea to host anything at a home,” Davis said, cautioning that gatherings involving alcohol, drugs or dangerous behavior can quickly turn hazardous.
The couple denies wrongdoing. Their attorney said an invitation intended for 10 to 20 classmates spread to older high school students who overwhelmed the gathering. (Fairfax County Police Department)
The chief stressed that “parents have to be parents” and “adults have to be adults,” warning that even well-intentioned plans can produce serious unintended consequences.
Vaughan said he appreciated the officers’ help in dispersing the crowd and holds no animosity toward those who responded.
“The lesson is just make sure you’re watching Snapchat,” Vaughan told FOX 5.
Police have not announced charges against any teenagers who attended the gathering.