Burlington man charged after Orange authorities find large New Year's Eve party
A Burlington man was charged late Thursday with violating North Carolina's pandemic restrictions after Orange County deputies responded to a report of a large New Year's Eve party in Hillsborough.
Posted — UpdatedA tent was set up outside the Palmers Grove Community Center, at 1021 Palmers Grove Church Road, and deputies said about 100 people were inside.
Jacob Alfred Kurtis Bethea, who organized the party, dubbed New Years in the Valley, and advertised it on social media as “the biggest New Year’s party in the state," authorities said.
Party attendees purchased tickets online prior to receiving the address of the gathering. Deputies found about 10 people armed with semiautomatic handguns providing security for the party, and one even carried an AR-15 rifle, authorities said.
Bethea, 30, was charged with violating executive orders on mass gathering limits and operating an entertainment facility that's supposed to be closed. Deputies also served him with an outstanding warrant from Guilford County charging him with violating the mass gathering limits with an event in September.
He posted on Facebook Friday night, "Man I made the news last night yes I got locked for throwing my people a party but I don’t care it’s f****** new years we got to have fun."
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