A McAllen homeowner was arrested early Sunday after police say they found as many as 20 teenagers at a party where several were so drunk that three juveniles needed on-scene medical care. Officers say the homeowner himself, 58-year-old Mark Edward Wilkins, was also extremely intoxicated when they arrived.
Police were called to the 1500 block of North 6th Street in regards to “underage drinking at location,” according to a report from myrgv.com. A caller had reported seeing a lot of male individuals outside and could hear people throwing up, according to krgv.com. When officers reached the address, they found about 15 to 20 boys running around before several jumped the back fence.
Empty Cans and Teens Needing Care
Officers identified several highly intoxicated minors and saw empty cans of alcohol scattered at the location, the same myrgv.com report states. Three kids between the ages of 14 and 15 were given on-scene care for suspected overconsumption of alcohol before being released to responsible parties, per the same account.
Wilkins was ultimately charged with three counts of furnishing alcohol to a minor. When officers made contact with him, they found him to be extremely intoxicated, the report notes. Jail records show Wilkins was given $15,000 in bonds and was released the same day.
A Pattern of McAllen House Parties
This is not the first time McAllen police have arrested an adult homeowner over a party involving underage drinking this year. In May, a pair of homeowners, John Michael McIntyre and Tina Marie McIntyre, were arrested after what was described as a prom after-party, where officers found open bottles of alcohol, cans and black Solo cups all containing alcohol, according to myrgv.com's prior coverage. Police issued 22 citations in that case for possession or consumption of alcohol by a minor.
In another incident this year, Miguel Angel Herrera was arrested and charged with furnishing alcohol to a minor after being identified as the homeowner where a house party drew an estimated 40 to 50 juveniles who were consuming alcoholic beverages, as reported by KRGV. Herrera was released on a $1,500 bond. A separate case involved a 17-year-old, Devin Davila, arrested on charges tied to furnishing alcohol for minors at an Airbnb party, where police cited 25 people between the ages of 16 and 18 for possession of alcohol by a minor, according to ValleyCentral.
What Texas Law Says About Social Hosting
The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission describes social hosting as hosting a party or gathering where alcohol is available, and says it is illegal for an adult to provide alcohol to anyone younger than 21 or to allow minors to consume alcohol on that adult's property if the adult is not their parent or guardian, according to a guide from TABC. Separately, the agency's public guidance states that making alcoholic beverages available to a minor is classified as a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $4,000, confinement in jail for up to one year, or both.
The string of similar arrests across McAllen this year, from prom after-parties to Airbnb rentals, underscores how often local police are responding to teen drinking gatherings hosted at private residences. For now, the case against Wilkins adds another entry to that growing list, with the Hidalgo County jail record showing his release the same day he was booked.
