Serving alcohol to minors: Call leads to couple’s arrest by McAllen PD

In August 2024, a Nikki Rowe High School varsity football star was set to start his senior year when he attended a private party at a residence on Bentsen Rd. where the homeowner served alcohol to the underage teens in attendance.

Tragically, the senior fell head first onto concrete trying to jump off the top of a pool side gazebo.

In that case, the man of the house was charged with serving alcohol to minors.

This past weekend, a reporting party contacted McAllen police to check a residence on the 3100 block of Scenic Way, after they “noticed underage drinking.”

Responding officers made contact with the homeowners and observed “several bottles of alcohol, cans of alcoholic beverages and black solo cups that were all open and containing alcohol.” Several minors were detained for further investigation of alcohol violations. Minors, in this case, are defined as a person under 21 years of age.

Interviews with the juveniles indicated they were having “a prom after-party” and that the homeowners “were the ones who gave them alcohol and allowed them to drink it.”

During the course of this investigation, McAllen police officers arrested John Michael McIntyre and his wife, Tina Marie McIntyre, for allegedly Furnishing Alcohol to a Minor, a Class “A” Misdemeanor.

Officers also issued 22 citations for Possession or Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor.

Minors suspected of alcohol consumption were released to responsible parties. Citations for these violations are a promise to appear in the McAllen Municipal Court for appropriate disposition.

Each citation has been forwarded to the McAllen Municipal Court for processing and adjudication.

Minor persons identified in this incident ranged in age from 16 to 19 years old.

The McAllen Police Department continues to investigate and identify any person who participated in this offense.

The Department works with local and state partners to identify these persons.

Other charges may be forthcoming.

Anyone with information about this crime is urged to call McAllen Crime Stoppers at 956-687-TIPS (956-687-8477).

You may remain anonymous. Information that leads to an arrest may be eligible for a cash reward.

You may also submit an anonymous tip through the “P3 Tips” smart phone app.

Texas has zero tolerance for underage drinking and enforces strict laws that prohibit providing, serving, and furnishing alcohol to minors.

The Texas Alcohol and Beverage Commission’s Education and Prevention Division created the Alcohol- Free Underage Drinking Program in 2018 to encourage parents to talk to their children about alcohol and discourage minors from consuming alcohol under the age of 21.

Furnishing alcohol to a person younger than 21 — even if the provider of the alcohol is a minor themselves — is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $4,000, confinement in jail for up to a year and a driver license suspension for 180 days upon conviction.