California woman threw ‘dangerous,’ alcohol-fueled parties – and all her guests were underage

Warning: The articles contains mention of child sexual abuse. Please proceed with caution.

A California mother has received a sentence of 35 years and 10 months in prison after being convicted of hosting a series of dangerous sex and alcohol-fueled parties for teenagers. Shannon O’Connor, who is also known as Shannon Bruga, was handed the maximum possible sentence on Thursday following a harrowing three-day hearing that featured victim impact statements from those she harmed.

According to NBC News, the 52-year-old mother from Los Gatos was discovered to have hosted parties for teens, mostly 14 and 15-year-olds, over a period of two years. Prosecutors stated that O’Connor provided the teens with vodka and Fireball whiskey, and condoms. She reportedly actively discouraged these children from seeking help or telling their parents, even when one victim became so intoxicated that they passed out in their own vomit.

In Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen’s statement, he noted, “This isn’t some fun parent giving sips of wine spritzers to kids. She facilitated dangerous and drunken sex acts with these children. She risked their lives and damaged their psyches.” In March, O’Connor was convicted on counts of child endangerment, facilitating forcible sexual assault between minors, and dissuading witnesses from reporting a crime. 

O’Connor is now required to register as a sex offender

True Crime News highlighted that during 2020 and 2021, O’Connor hosted at least six parties where she encouraged the teens to drink to excess. In some instances, she reportedly watched and laughed while girls were sexually battered in her home. 

Per CBS, she often used Snapchat to message minors in the middle of the night, pressuring them to come to her house. At one point, she encouraged a boy to assault a girl who was so intoxicated she nearly drowned in a hot tub.

When authorities finally arrived with an arrest warrant on October 13, 2021, in Idaho, they found 10 underage boys and two underage girls in the home. According to the ADA Sheriff’s office, her own teenage sons were in imminent danger and were subsequently removed from her custody.

During her trial, 41 witnesses provided testimony regarding her behavior. Later, in his press briefing, Rosen reflected on the impact statements provided by the victims. 

He stated, “I listened to the testimony of several victims and their parents and heard these words and phrases over and over again. … Predator, manipulated, groomed, hypersexualized, violated, betrayed, traumatized, isolated, intimidated, harassed. 

Rosed stated that he also heard the following remarks: “Made me feel small. Suffered severe anxiety and depression. Contemplated suicide. Not over it, lifelong impact, forever changed me, stole my innocence, took away my childhood. But I also heard resilient, strong survivors.”

During the third day of the sentencing hearing, O’Connor addressed the court directly. She said, “I am responsible for the harmful situation that I put your daughters and sons through. But as I look at you all today, I hope you can find some comfort knowing that I have been punished — and will continue to be for years to come.” 

O’Connor also added, “I’m sorry for all of you and what I put you through. I am ashamed, and I face every day knowing that I was the cause of so many people’s anguish. I want you all to know that I live every day wishing I could take everything back.”

Despite these remarks, NBC reported that Deputy District Attorney Joanne Lee characterized the apology as “deeply offensive” and lacking any real accountability. The judge agreed with this assessment, noting that he did not find O’Connor to be genuinely remorseful before delivering the sentence. While O’Connor’s lawyer, Stephen Prekoski, has stated that they intend to appeal the decision, the victims and their families have expressed a sense of relief. 

Kate Gude, the mother of one of the victims who helped initiate the police investigation, spoke outside the courthouse, saying, “This shows that when you come together, you put these bad people away and the kids have a shot. You got to speak up and speak out. It’s the only way to keep everybody safe, happy and whole.” 

Normally, charges like child endangerment and terms like ‘party mom’ together evoke a very different picture. It could be something like a parent getting drunk and abandoning their child. In worse scenarios, it could also be criminals crashing a teen party. In this case, parties just to corrupt, groom and manipulate is a crime so disturbing, ans that’s just based on the Court statements and the sentence the perpetrator received.

Since O’Connor has been in jail since 2021, she will receive credit for time served. However, she is still going away for a long time.