As authorities continue to investigate damage from a holiday weekend party at former NFL player Brian Holloway's Rensselaer County vacation home, Capital Region Bureau Chief Dave Lucas looks into the Pandora's box of legal, moral and social issues opened when Holloway posted photos from partygoers’ social media sites on a website of his own...
When Holloway, an offensive lineman for the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Raiders during the 1980s, visited his place in Stephentown, he got quite a shock: the mansion was heavily damaged after a gathering of an estimated 300 teens, who allegedly broke in and partied over Labor Day weekend.
Invitations to the party were disseminated via social media, and during the gathering, several partygoers uploaded all kinds of photos to social media. Holloway's son discovered the party as it was in progress when he saw people tweeting the images.
Holloway himself copied many of the images to a website he created called helpmesave300-dot-com - he says he is concerned about the kids who were at his home. He doesn't believe everyone at the party "had a good time."
Hollow is miffed that some of the parents have railed against him in response to his publishing photographs.
Holloway would like to see some of the teens come forward, accept responsibility for their behavior and help the cleanup effort at his home, where he is hosting a picnic for military servicemen and women this weekend.
As for some of the other questions being raised surrounding Holloway's use of the images: Holloway is also disappointed that more teens haven't come forward, and he's concerned the partygoers are headed down the wrong path.
Holloway claims the teens caused at least $20,000 in damage to his property. Partygoers face an array of possible charges including breaking and entering, property damage and underage drinking. Lincy Jacob, an associate attorney at the Tully Rinckey firm, thinks prosecutors will have an easy day in court if any cases arising from the incident go before a judge.
The Times Union reported that the boyfriend of a Cohoes High student organized and perpetrated the break-in. On his website, Holloway thanked another Cohoes High student for returning a small headstone she had stolen: he had it made for his grandson, who died at birth.
No arrests have been made. The investigation continues.
