Landon C. Cousins of Clifton pleaded guilty on Wednesday, Aug. 9 in Fairfax County General District Court to two counts of willfully contributing to the delinquency of a minor and one count of buying alcohol for an underage person.
Investigators determined that Cousins bought beer for 16-year-old Lauren Sausville on Dec. 3, 2004. She later died in an alcohol-related car crash. She was driving southbound on Colchester Road approaching the intersection of Fairfax Station Road when she lost control of the car at a curve. The 1999 Ford Explorer hit an embankment, flipped onto the driver’s side and skidded down toward the intersection where it impacted the rear of another car. Sausville was dead at the scene. Toxicology tests indicated that she was intoxicated at the time of the crash. The legal limit for persons under the age of 21 is .02.
“Fairfax County Police strictly enforce the laws regarding underage drinking. When evidence exists to place charges on an adult who knowingly purchases alcohol for underage people, we will aggressively pursue those adults, utilizing all legal options available,” said Capt. Jesse Bowman, commander of the Traffic Division.