Posted on 10/05/2005 1:32:22 PM PDT by ShadowDancer
Zetsche's Wife Fined For Role In Hosting Party
Judge Says Woman's Behavior Sent 'Pathetic Message' To Young People
POSTED: 3:39 pm EDT October 5, 2005
BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. -- Gisela Zetsche, the wife of incoming DaimlerChrysler AG Chief Executive Dieter Zetsche, was fined $500 and ordered to pay $2,500 in court costs Wednesday for her role in hosting a party at which more than 20 underage drinkers were ticketed.
Had Bloomfield Township police taken the case to Oakland County prosecutors, Gisela Zetsche could have been charged with providing alcohol to a minor, a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and as many as 60 days in jail.
Instead, she pleaded no contest on Aug. 24 to a township ordinance violation that carries a maximum fine of $500, plus court costs. Her plea is not an admission of guilt but is treated as such for sentencing purposes.
District Court Judge Kimberly Small chastised Zetsche, saying her irresponsible behavior sent "a pathetic message" to young people.
"It was wrong. It was profoundly wrong. It was illegal. And it was downright dangerous," Small said.
Zetsche's attorney Mike Schloss said his client accepted responsibility for her actions. He also said she plans to do voluntary community service.
"This incident has made it very clear to her that underage drinking in our community is a very serious problem, and it needs to be addressed not only by teenagers but also by adults," Schloss said.
Township attorney Thomas Ryan said the court costs imposed by Small were extremely high given the fine amount.
According to a police report, officers in the suburban Detroit community said they received complaints shortly before midnight June 18 of noise, drinking and people throwing things at passing vehicles at the Zetsche home. Police found two beer kegs, beer bottles, an open bottle of margarita mix and half a dozen empty liquor bottles, the report said.
Also according to the report, Gisela Zetsche said she bought beer for the 19th birthday party of a young man who was living with the family for the summer.
Chrysler Group spokeswoman Shawn Morgan has said Dieter Zetsche was not at home during the party.
Dieter Zetsche, who led the resurgence of DaimlerChrysler's Chrysler Group in the United States, was named in July to replace Juergen Schrempp as the head of the world's fifth-largest carmaker at the beginning of next year.
Did Giselle have sex with several of the teenage guests?
Yep. That's what I think happened to.
She was probably unaware of the law.
Yep! My husband's family came over in the 50's and they had wine or beer at just about every meal when he was a teenager. It wasn't a big deal to him.
Again, I am just amazed at the fact a 13 year old can have an abortion on demand in this country but an 18 year old can't have a drink. I joined the military at 18 and had drinks all over the world responsibly but when I came back home, not a chance.
But you can't have a beer.
It's incredibly stupid.
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