East Hampton Cops Arrest Alleged Host in Teen Overdose

Jefferson Davis Eames, 48, the owner of the Neck Path property where an East Hampton teen allegedly overdosed on morphine on Jan. 29, was arraigned Friday in East Hampton Town Justice Court on multiple charges, including one of felony drug dealing.

Mr. Eames was also charged with nine counts of endangering the welfare of a minor, three counts of violating the Suffolk County Social Host law, which prohibits adults from knowingly allowing the consumption of alcohol in a residence by a minor, and one charge of resisting arrest. Police said when detectives approached him outside his residence on Thursday afternoon, he attempted to elude them by re-entering his Springs house and closing the doors on the police after they told him he was under arrest. The 13 additional charges are all misdemeanors.

Mr. Eames's attorney, Eileen Powers, entered a denial to the felony, and a not-guilty plea to the misdemeanors during the Friday arraignment.

Because he is already facing numerous charges stemming from five previous arrests by East Hampton Town police, all within the past six months, bail was set by Justice Steven Tekulsky at $40,000; he can also post a $275,000 bond. It was not immediately posted.

None of the new charges directly relate to the drug overdose, East Hampton Town Police Capt. Chris Anderson said Friday, but at least one of those charges is connected to that time period. In the January incident, which prompted outrage among East Hampton parents, 18-year-old Jordan Johnson was reportedly left untreated for 12 hours after overdosing at Mr. Eames's residence. Finally, a minor at the house, acting on Mr. Eames's instructions, called 911 for help, according to police. Mr. Johnson is still recovering after suffering an attack of toxic leukoencephalopathy during the time he was unconscious.

Captain Anderson said that Mr. Johnson, who is 18 and therefore no longer a minor, is not covered by the law against endangering the welfare of a child.

The three incidents related to the social host law charges occurred on Dec. 4 and Dec. 9, 2016, and New Year's Day of this year.

Captain Anderson asked for the public's assistance in what he described as an ongoing investigation. Calls can be diHe said there are several other incidents at the house that police are looking into. "We appeal to the public to come forward." Detectives can be reached at 631-537-7575.

Police have been investigating Mr. Eames since at least early December, when two arrests were made in the vicinity of the house, according to Captain Anderson. The two picked up on Dec. 9, both 18, were charged with possession of Ecstasy, an illegal drug, as well as marijuana. He said those arrests were directly related to complaints the department had been getting from neighbors concerned with what they believed were illegal activities at the house.

"This has been a difficult and protracted case to close given HIPAA privacy laws, good Samaritan laws, and uncooperative witnesses," East Hampton Town Police Chief Michael Sarlo said in an email Friday afternoon.

As Justice Tekulsky was considering bail, Mr. Eames's attorney told him that her client has entered a drug treatment program. Justice Tekulsky told Mr. Eames that the district attorney's office had asked for bail be set at $50,000. Arguing for a lower amount, Ms. Powers said that Mr. Eames has strong ties to the community. She characterized him as "cooperative," and said that there is no record of him failing to appear on his many court dockets in East Hampton.

"I would disagree that he is always cooperative, as there is a charge of resisting arrest in this case, as well as in one of the other matters, and in one of the other matters that I initially arraigned him on, he was charged with unlawful fleeing a police officer, which is some evidence of his unwillingness to cooperate," Justice Tekulsky said. "I also would point out that the first time I had occasion to arraign him was on Nov. 16. Among the other charges was unlawful operation of a motor vehicle." Since then, Justice Tekulsky has arraigned Mr. Eames twice more on unlicensed driving charges. "I have reviewed the charges here, all of which are serious," Justice Tekulsky said, as he set bail at $40,000.

If bail is not posted, and the district attorney's office does not obtain an indictment on the felony charge by then, Mr. Eames will be released from custody Tuesday afternoon.

Mr. Johnson's mother, Christine Moran, and father, Andre Johnson, were in the back of the courtroom on Friday watching Mr. Eames's arraignment. Their son was released Wednesday night from the Rusk Rehabilitation Institute at New York University-Langone Medical Center in Manhattan. He will continue his rehabilitation in an outpatient facility in Port Jefferson, Ms. Moran said. A fund-raiser for him and his family is planned for March 19 at the Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett.

Ms. Moran and Mr. Johnson said they were relieved that Mr. Eames had been arrested. "I'm so happy, because this isn't going to happen to any other kid," Ms. Moran said.

"He is being held accountable," the older Mr. Johnson said.

"This arrest should help parents in the community recognize our department is working diligently to combat drug and alcohol abuse by minors, and will continue to thoroughly investigate any complaints of underage drinking, or drug use," Chief Sarlo wrote. "The public should educate themselves with regards to the county social host law as well as the good Samaritan law in overdose cases." Good Samaritan laws provide immunity from arrest or prosecution for people calling 911 for emergency medical attention for opiate-related overdoses.

"We will continue to be proactive in educating parents and youth to the dangers and risks associated with drug and alcohol abuse," the chief said.

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This article has been updated from the version that previously appeared online.