DERRY — Charges have been filed against six store clerks, last week, who sold alcohol to a minor working undercover for the Derry Police Department.
Derry police with the help of the New Hampshire Liquor Commission enforcement officers performed compliance checks at 20 convenience stores and gas stations in town. At six, clerks sold to a minor, according to police.
The checks were planned to coincide with the prom and graduation season, police said.
Capt. Vernon Thomas said two underage decoys working with the liquor commission were sent into the store to buy beer and instructed to show their actual identification if asked. In at least one instance, the underage buyer was asked for identification and was still able to buy the alcohol.
The six stores that police said violated the law are: Shaw's Supermarket on Crystal Avenue; Hannaford Supermarket on Manchester Road; Cumberland Farms on East Broadway; Brother's Varietyon South Avenue; Birch Street Shell on Birch Street and Gibbs Oil on Crystal Avenue. The stores involved could face sanctions from the state Liquor Commission ranging from a letter of warning to a suspension of their licenses to sell alcohol.
The individuals charged were Lindsey Montembeault, 18; Jenna Donahue, 18; Amanda Cobin, 18; Stephen DePaula, 63; Joseph Stancik, 21; Maureen Pacheco, 49.
All the clerks have been charged with the one misdemeanor count of prohibited sale of alcohol to a minor. They have been given a summons to appear in Derry District Court on June 3.
