The California mother convicted of throwing sexualized, alcohol-filled parties involving teens was sentenced Thursday to more than 35 years in prison.
Shannon O’Connor, also known as Shannon Bruga, received the maximum sentence following three days of victim impact statements, including from one who told the court she became suicidal from the trauma.
The charges against the 52-year-old mother from Los Gatos stemmed from a series of drunken parties she hosted for teens over two years.
O’Connor bought vodka and Fireball whiskey and provided condoms for the teens, according to prosecutors. She also discouraged the teens from telling their parents or seeking help when one of the victims passed out in their own vomit. The teens at these parties were mostly 14 and 15 years old.
“This isn’t some fun parent giving sips of wine spritzers to kids,” Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen said in a statement. “She facilitated dangerous and drunken sex acts with these children. She risked their lives and damaged their psyches.”
O’Connor was convicted in March of dozens of crimes, including child endangerment, dissuading witnesses from reporting a crime and facilitating forcible sexual assault between minors. O’Connor must also register as a sex offender.
“For the first time in a long time for these brave, strong and resilient children and their families, there is some justice,” Rosen said at a news briefing after the sentencing.
Many of the victims and their parents were in the courtroom for the sentencing hearing. They had called for the maximum sentence, citing the degree of charges and the lasting impact of the trauma.
O’Connor apologized to the victims and their families and addressed the court for the first time on the third day of the sentencing hearing.
“I am responsible for the harmful situation that I put your daughters and sons through. But as I look at you all today, I hope you can find some comfort knowing that I have been punished — and will continue to be for years to come,” she said. “I’m sorry for all of you and what I put you through. I am ashamed, and I face every day knowing that I was the cause of so many people’s anguish. I want you all to know that I live every day wishing I could take everything back.”
Parents said the parties were not the main problem. It was the years of grooming, manipulation and harassment of their children, some as young as 11 and 12, by O’Connor, who still denies allegations that she orchestrated sexual misconduct between the minors.
Deputy District Attorney Joanne Lee called O’Connor’s remarks “deeply offensive” and showed “zero accountability.” Prosecutors said O’Connor communicated with minors through Snapchat and she pressured victims to “hook up” in designated bedrooms in her house.
The judge agreed, saying he did not find O’Connor “genuinely remorseful,” before handing her a sentence of 35 years and 10 months.
Kate Gude, the mother of one of the victims who spearheaded the police investigation, said she was content with the sentencing.
“This shows that when you come together, you put these bad people away and the kids have a shot,” Gude said outside the courthouse. “You got to speak up and speak out. It’s the only way to keep everybody safe, happy and whole.”
O’Connor’s lawyer, Stephen Prekoski, said they will appeal.
“She never had a meaningful opportunity to settle this case,” Prekoski said. “I’m not persuaded by those that believe that she was not remorseful. I’m not persuaded by those that believe that she didn’t take accountability for her actions.”
O’Connor has been jailed since her arrest in 2021 and she’ll receive credit for time served. With good behavior in prison, it could be less than that.
