Conservative 'parental rights' activist accused of punching a teen and providing alcohol
Clarice Schillinger, the unsuccessful Republican candidate for lieutenant governor in Pennsylvania and a conservative "parents rights" activist, was arrested for punching a teenager, harassing and hosting an underage drinking party, USA Today reported.
The incident allegedly unfolded at her daughter's birthday party, according to the case filed in October. Schillinger's has denied all of the charges through her lawyer.
Since 2021, the activist has poured more than $800,000 into Pennsylvania school board races for candidates who oppose COVID-19 lockdowns and claim schools are being invaded by liberals.
According to the criminal case, Schillinger punched a parent several times in the face and one child in the eye during "a series of alleged outbursts by drunken adults at her home in Doylestown," an affidavit reveals.
"The documents state that during the event — which started Sept. 29 and went past midnight — Schillinger’s then-boyfriend allegedly grabbed a 16-year-old by the neck for intervening in a fight between the couple and hit a 15-year-old in the face during an argument over football," said the report.
The report said Schillinger also hit the older teen in the eye.
Police say that they have cellphone recordings of some of the incidents. Minors began fleeing for their homes after out-of-control adults became unruly. Schillinger ordered them to stay, but was ignored, the documents say.
The footage allegedly shows Schillinger lunging toward partygoers before someone restrained her. That's when one individual said that Schillinger punched an older man three times with a closed fist.
The party was for her daughter's 17th birthday and hosted 20 teens in her basement which was stocked with New Amsterdam vodka and Malibu Bay Breeze rum, say police. She not only provided the alcohol for the teens, but she also poured and served it, asking them to take a shot with her and playing beer pong with them, said witnesses.
One of the parents finally called the police in the early morning hours of Sept. 30 to report the incident. Investigators interviewed teens about it, according to the affidavit.
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"Emergency dispatch data provided by the Bucks County Emergency Service Division logged at least four different calls at the address," said the report. There was a noise complaint and accusations of an underage party on Sept. 24th, the weekend prior to the birthday.
Upon arriving, police saw a number of beer cans around the property and the streets. They witnessed about 20 teens dive into the home once they were seen. Police attempted to talk to Schillinger but said she was “intoxicated and uncooperative," they said.
Days later, on the 29th, there were additional noise complaints after midnight for the home that included accusations of "intoxicated subjects." That night, police spoke only to Schillinger’s then-boyfriend, Shan Wilson.
The preliminary hearing is scheduled for late January.