Northern athletes are cited at underage party

A number of Montana State University-Northern athletes will face athletic sanctions after being caught by police at an underage drinking party, their coaches said today.

A half-dozen athletes from Northern's football team, and one each from the women's volleyball and women's basketball teams were cited for misdemeanors after Havre police busted a party early Sunday morning. One person was taken to jail, and 21 others were issued summonses in connection with the incident, Havre police said.

Northern's athletics drirector, Byron Ophus, said he had been informed of the incident, adding it has not been determined what punishments the students will face.

"We have some policies in place that deal with certain circumstances," he said. He would not describe the policies.

Northern football coach Walt Currie said this morning that several of the players cited at the party had told him about the incident.

"A number of them have come forward and told me about it," Currie said, declining to identify those players. "Our normal policy is usually a game suspension and other appropriate punishment."

Northern volleyball coach Lisa Handley said the one player on her team cited at the party would face consequences in connection with the incident, but declined to comment further.

Women's basketball coach Mike Erickson said the one player from his team who was cited at the party had already told him about the incident.

The player's punishment had not been decided, he added.

The party was one of the largest Havre police have encountered in the past two years, Assistant Police Chief Mike Barthel said today. One high school party several years ago resulted in more than 50 citations, and another last summer resulted in 25, he said.

Sunday's party is the largest police have busted since students returned to MSU-N just over a month ago.

"It was our first big party of the year," said police Lt. George Tate.

Police recieved a complaint of a loud party in an apartment in the 2000 block of First Street at 2:52 a.m., Barthel said. When police responded, they found a large number of underage people drinking at the residence.

Officers took photgraphs for evidence, and poured out the alcohol they found in the residence, Barthel said.

The only person arrested during the incident was Northern football player Lowell Douglas Hahn, 22, of Havre. Hahn, an offensive lineman, was charged with unlawful transactions with children and obstructing a peace officer.

"He became combative and was arrested," Barthel said.

Three other people were cited for unlawful transactions with children, the normal charge issued to people 21 and older who are a caught at an underage drinking party.

Those issued a summons on the charge were: Northern football player Nathaniel Ryan Walters, 21; Tyler James McElvain, 21; and Northern volleyball player Jasmine Karma Mitchell, 21. All are of Havre. McElvain turned 21 on Friday.

The other 18 people cited in connection with the party were under age 21. Those individuals were issued summonses on a charge of purchase or possession of an intoxicant by a minor.

Cited for MIP were: Kevin Benjamin Math, 20, of Havre; Addam Levie Hellie, 19, of Havre; Chelsie Lynn Crandell, 18, of Scobey; Jacob Anthony Smith, 19, of Havre; Neal Dean Levany, 20, of Havre; Colt J. High, 20, of Havre; Bill McCormick, 20, of Havre; Kaydee Jean Carnahan, 20, of Havre; MSU-N basketball player Kristal Ann Lohse, 19, of Havre; Kendra Sue Nieskens, 18, of Havre; Randy Ray Lowder Jr., 19, of Havre; Amanda Dawn Willmore, 19, of Havre; Renessa Rene Briere, 19, of Havre; Blake Thomas Murray, 19, of Havre; Jamie Lynn Peterson, 18, of Havre, Sammie Jo Noyd, 18, of Havre; and Cortson Ray Milks, 19, of Havre.