Audio By Carbonatix
We all know wacky relatives who slip kids sips of booze at parties. But the Denver District Attorney’s Office says eighteen-year-olds Skyler Dematteo and Tyrale Haselrig-Graham crossed the line from playfulness to child abuse on New Year’s Eve, giving a nine-year old so many vodka shots that she had to be taken to the hospital.
Look below to see a DA’s office release with more details, as well as booking photos of Dematteo and Haselrig-Graham.
Denver District Attorney’s Office release:
TWO CHARGED WITH GETTING 9-YEAR-OLD DRUNKDenver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey has formally charged two teenagers with giving a young boy repeated shots of vodka that made him seriously ill.
Skyler Dematteo (dob: 09-30-92) and Tyrale Haselrig-Graham (dob: 03-18-92) are facing charges of child abuse causing serious bodily injury (F3), contributing to the delinquency of a minor (F4) and providing alcohol to a minor (M1). The charges against Haselrig-Graham were filed today; the charges against Dematteo were filed earlier and did not include the child abuse charge, which will be added.
The charges allege that on December 31, 2010, Dematteo and Haselrig-Graham were at the victim’s home while the victim’s mother was away and repeatedly gave the child shots of vodka as the two teens were drinking. When the victim’s mother returned home, she immediately called for help; the victim was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Dematteo has been released from custody on a $10,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Denver County Courtroom 2100 on February 15, 2011 at 8:30 a.m. for a preliminary hearing. Haselrig-Graham remains in custody in the Denver Detention Center; his bond is set at $5,000. He is scheduled to appear in Denver County Courtroom 2100 on January 27, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. to be formally advised of the charges.
When news happens, Westword is there —
Your support strengthens our coverage.
We’re aiming to raise $50,000 by December 31, so we can continue covering what matters most to this community. If Westword matters to you, please take action and contribute today, so when news happens, our reporters can be there.
More from our Colorado Crimes archive: “David Dolan likely first-ever Colorado State Patrol trooper caught driving drunk on duty, spokesman says.”
