Parents Work to Keep Teen Parties Safe

The parents of a Laguna Hills teen who was severely beaten at a party in December 1999 have teamed up with a local counseling service to advise families how to keep youth get-togethers from running out of control.

“It’s not like we’re trying to wipe out every teen party,” said Greg Lerum, who in the year since his son Kris was assaulted has spoken to small parent groups and PTAs. “But if parents can be aware of what happens at parties when they’re not present, then they’ll know how to control it.”

To get the word out, Lerum and his wife, Robin, joined with Community Service Projects, a Santa Ana-based nonprofit agency that offers drug counseling, gang intervention and victim assistance. Today, the couple and the agency will host “Breaking the Bond: Youth, Alcohol, Drugs and Violence,” a forum for parents, youth leaders and educators.

Investigators never determined what started the fight in which Kris Lerum was punched and kicked in the head, face and body, leaving him with a broken nose, jaw and cheekbone. A juvenile and two adults were arrested in connection with the beating, from which Lerum has recovered. The adults are awaiting trial, said Michelle Goseco, a deputy Orange County district attorney. The juvenile has been tried, convicted and sentenced.

Lt. Rex Hatch, Orange County Sheriff’s chief of police services for Laguna Hills, said Lerum “just could have been picked out. It’s hard to say.”

Investigators do know that the party, to which two dozen teens were invited, grew to about 300. Several brawls broke out.

Those who attend today’s forum will leave with statistics on teen substance abuse plus tip sheets on how to form parent party-watch networks, work with police on party patrols and set ground rules for gatherings, said David Rhodes of Community Service Programs. A co-sponsor of the event is the South Orange County Substance Abuse Coalition.

Besides the Lerums, panelists will be a sheriff’s crime prevention officer, a psychologist, an emergency room physician and a substance abuse counselor.

“We want to give people some concrete things, attainable things that they can do,” Rhodes said.

The free public forum is at 6 p.m. at Saddleback Memorial Medical Center, 24451 Health Center Drive, Laguna Hills. Information: (949) 757-1096.