Defendant in Meyer probe says he didn't know Plainville teen was to get rum
BY DAVID LINTON SUN CHRONICLE STAFF
Wednesday, December 24, 2008 2:22 PM EST
Sean Flynn of North Attleboro leaves Attleboro District Court following a show-cause hearing Wednesday morning. (Staff photo by Martin Gavin)
ATTLEBORO - The lawyer for a North Attleboro man accused of buying booze for an underage friend in the probe of circumstances leading to 17-year-old Taylor Meyer's death said his client would not have bought the alcohol if he knew Meyer and her friend would have gotten it.
John J. McGlone III, the Quincy lawyer representing 21-year-old Sean Flynn, said Wednesday his client is only accused of buying rum for his friend, Brian Zuzick, 20, and did not know it would later be given to Zuzick's 17-year-old sister, Paige, and to Meyer the night Meyer disappeared and was later found dead.
"Never in a million years did he think it was provided to the two young ladies," McGlone said after a 40-minute show-cause hearing in Attleboro District Court.
McGlone said Flynn accompanied Zuzick and Zuzick's 21-year-old girlfriend to Boulevard Liquors in North Attleboro, where he is accused of buying the alcohol.
The rum was placed in the trunk of the car, which was driven by Zuzick's girlfriend, before Flynn was later dropped off, McGlone said.
The events are alleged to have occurred Oct. 17, the night of an outdoor underage drinking party on the grounds of the former Norfolk Airport in Norfolk attended by about 20 youths.
Meyer, a King Philip Regional High School senior from Plainville, left the party alone at some point and was found dead in a swampy area three days later after an extensive search.
North Attleboro police are seeking to charge Flynn with procuring alcohol for a person under 21, a misdemeanor punishable by a $2,000 fine, a one-year jail sentence or both.
"The evidence will show he put the alcohol in the trunk of the car," McGlone said.
The hearing was not open to the public, and neither Flynn nor his father, Paul, commented as they left the courthouse.
A clerk magistrate will decide whether police have sufficient evidence to charge Flynn, of 269 West St. in North Attleboro.
If the clerk decides police have enough evidence, Flynn will be arraigned at a later date before a judge.
The clerk, First Assistant Clerk Nancy Clarke, took the matter under advisement and a decision is not expected before the end of the year.
Plainville police are seeking to charge Zuzick, of 6 Red Coat Lane in Plainville, with similar charges for allegedly giving two bottles of rum to his sister and Meyer.
A show-cause hearing in Wrentham District Court has not yet been scheduled, Plainville Police Chief Edward Merrick said.
Zuzick could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
McGlone described Flynn, a North Attleboro High School graduate, as heartbroken over Meyer's death and who has since sought counseling.
He said Flynn assisted in the search for Meyer, whose mother Kathi, grew up with his father.
Flynn did not know anything about how Meyer is alleged to have obtained alcohol until he was questioned by police four or five days later.
"He's honest and forthright," McGlone said of Flynn, whom he said has been fully cooperative with investigators in the ongoing investigation.
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pb wrote on Dec 25, 2008 10:38 AM:
beatsme wrote on Dec 24, 2008 5:25 PM:
Yeah, that's why he bought booze for his 20-yr old friend.
His defense of not knowing those girls were going to get the stuff is weak because he still broke the law getting that stuff for his friend.
No matter how you spin it, this guy broke the law, regardless of what he thought or didn't think would happen. "