Florida Principal Walks Free After Hosting Underage Rager

as to the charges of open house party. sec second degree misdemeanor and the. two counts of contributing to the. delinquency or dependency of a minor. first-degree misdemeanor. How do you. plead to those charges? >> It's one of the most jaw-dropping cases. that we have ever covered here on. Sidebar. Former Florida elementary. school principal Elizabeth Hilligan. accused of hosting a massive underage. drinking party right at her own home. The videos went viral, the outrage. exploded. And now that school principal. finally stood before a judge for a.

shocking sentence. Welcome to Sidebar, presented by Law and Crime. I'm Jesse. Weber. Okay, before we go any further into. this, if you're putting things out on. social media, have you ever wondered how. we're able to get our clips out there so. quickly on all these stories? We use. something called Opus Clip. Okay, this. is an all-in-one AI editor that makes it. so easy to cut, create, and upload. videos across any platform. Through AI, OpusClip generates B-roll, it refframes. footage, and even cleans up audio. It is.

so easy. You just visit. opus.pro/sidebar. You sign up, you upload, and in minutes, you have perfectly edited clips ready to. go for Tik Tok, shorts, reals. OpusClip. is your one-stop shop. And having a tool. like OpusClip means our producers can. get you viral courtroom updates. instantly. This is the most powerful. tool there is to share ideas and edit. like a pro. So, go to opus.pro/sidebar. to get a free week and then 50% off. You. know, we've covered some pretty wild. cases on this show before, but you know, every once in a while, there's one that.

just comes back around that makes you. shake your head all over again, right? You remember the Florida elementary. school principal and her teacher friend. who got caught in the middle of a. massive raging teen party at the. principal's own house? We got the 911. phone calls. We went through the Wild. Police affidavit and of course we all. saw that jaw-dropping body cam footage. where the third grade teacher Carly. Anderson appearing intoxicated allegedly. tells a police officer to quote, "Get. out of my face.

>> You're here with your boss having a. party with 200 kids who are drinking. Get out of my face.". >> Yeah, that case. That's what we're. talking about. Elizabeth Hilligan, the. principal, and Carly Anderson, the. teacher. Now, after their arrests, there. was public outrage. There was an attempt. to quietly move the teacher to another. school. It was a complete mess, by the. way. Well, I will tell you the reason. we're talking about it right now, this. week, that saga reached a critical. turning point because the principal. again, Elizabeth Helraigan, stood before.

a judge to learn her fate. >> All right. Good afternoon, ma'am. Will. you please raise your right hand? Do you. solemnly swear or affirm the testimony. you're about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the. truth? >> Yes, sir. It was a moment of. accountability for Hill Broad after a. night of absolute chaos that involved. cops, an ambulance, a teenager arrested. for DUI right outside her home. So, what. was her punishment, right, after doing. something like this? What would be her. punishment? Well, we're going to get to. that. Okay, may surprise you what her.

punishment was, and we're going to dive. into all that, but got to talk about. something. Okay, I got to set the scene. here. It's a Sunday night in January, the Sunday before the Martin Luther King. Jr. holiday and students in Bvard. County, Florida. They're enjoying their. long weekend. And in this quiet Cocoa. Beach neighborhood, on a street where. houses are close together, parking is. tight, there's a party that's starting. But this isn't just a few kids hanging. out. No. By around 8:40 p.m., the 911. calls start coming in. Neighbors are. reporting dozens of cars, maybe 75 or.

more, according to the callers, all. clogging the street. Kids are. everywhere. The noise is carrying. It is. clearly a massive gathering. >> Yeah, they're sending like videos on. Snapchat and like there's like fighting. and um like drinking and stuff. >> Okay. >> All right. I'll let the officers know. that are watching the area. >> All right. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> Have a good night. >> You too. Bye. >> There is obviously like a really big. party going on. I can't even get down.

the street. There's so many cars going. both ways. >> Yep. We have officers out at that. location now. They're trying to control. the situation. >> And when officers arrive, they find. exactly what the calls described. A. street that's jammed with parked cars, music thumping from a backyard, and. teenagers milling around. So officers, they start knocking on the door of the. house at the center of it all to see. what's going on. No one answers. But. here's the thing. They soon learn who. lives there. You see, that house.

apparently belongs to Elizabeth Hill. Broadan, the principal of the local. Roosevelt Elementary School. elementary. school. Now, police finally get a hold. of her on the phone. This is according. to court documents. And they tell her, "Look, there's an outofcrol party at her. home. There's underage drinking." And. according to the report, she tells them. that she's quote down the street and. quote, "We'll take care of it." Problem. is, party doesn't stop. No, it only gets. worse. Officers end up dealing with a. teenager who is so drunk that he's. vomiting in the front yard. They got to.

call an ambulance. They find another. teen who ran a stop sign and nearly hit. a patrol car. She's arrested for DUI. with a blood alcohol content nearly one. and a half times the legal adult limit. And with all this chaos going around, another adult woman emerges. She's not a. neighbor trying to help. No, it's. apparently Carly Anderson, a third grade. teacher at Roosevelt Elementary. So, Principal Hill Broadan's employee and I. guess that night her supposed guest. And. on body cam, you can see the chaos that.

went down when officers showed up and. confronted Anderson. Take a look. Well, this house belongs to the principal of. Roosevelt. >> Oh, that's fantastic. >> Yep. >> And you're drunk as well? >> I'm not drunk. >> Yes, you are. I smell it. >> Oh, you smell it. You. >> All right, let's do. >> We're not getting through that. But. >> I mean, do a test. >> You're here with your boss having a. party with 200 kids who are drinking. Get out of my face. >> All right. So, what happens? In the days. that followed this, police started. interviewing students and they alleged.

that Hill Broadan wasn't just aware of. the party. They claimed she helped set. the whole thing up, that alcohol was. ready and available in coolers inside, that she was in the house at one point. while all this was happening, made only. a weak attempt to try to stop it. Students reportedly told police that. parties like this at her home happened. once or twice a month. So, the fallout. was immediate and it was public. Both. women were arrested. The school district. suspended Hill Broadan. According to. Outlet News 6, there was a short-lived.

attempt to transfer Anderson to another. school in the district, which sparked, as you can imagine, parent protests, a. very quick reversal, and Anderson ended. up facing misdemeanor charges for what. she did that night or allegedly did that. night. As for Hill Broad, no, she faced. a lot more serious charges, including a. felony count of child neglect for her. role as the homeowner and alleged host. This week, we finally got the answer to. the biggest question left in this case. What actually happened to Elizabeth.

Hilligan in court? Now, she didn't go to. trial. There was no jury. There was no. witnesses. No relitigation of that. night. Now, instead, Hilligan walked. into court for a plea hearing on. Tuesday. The judge started by putting. Hilligan under oath, running her through. the basics. >> All right. Good afternoon, ma'am. Will. you please raise your right hand? Do you. solemnly swear or affirm the testimony. you're about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the. truth? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Will you please state your full name and. date of birth for the record? >> Elizabeth Jolen Hill Broadan, May 1st,

1977. Thank you. You may put your hand. down. We're here today in case 2025, CF13015. I see your attorneys, Mr. Shahas, and. Mr. Funker present with you at the. podium. How old are you, ma'am? >> 48. >> How far did you go in school? >> Uh, my specialist towards my doctorate. Do you read, write, and understand. English? >> Yes. >> Are you suffering from any mental. illness? >> No. >> Are you currently under the influence of. drugs, alcohol, or medication? >> No, your honor. >> I have in front of me,

>> a four-page plea agreement. Did you read. this entire plea agreement? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Did you sign it here on the second page? >> Yes, ma'am. >> And did you initial each page at the. bottom? >> I did. Before you signed this plea. agreement, did you review your case and. the plea agreement with your attorney? >> I did. >> Have you had enough time to speak with. your attorneys about what you're doing? >> Yes. >> And did you fully discuss your case with. your attorneys, including possible. defenses and witnesses?

>> Yes, ma'am. >> Are you satisfied with the services of. your attorneys? >> Yes, ma'am. >> And once the formalities were out of the. way, they got to the heart of the. matter, the plea itself. As to the. charges of open house party second. degree misdemeanor and the two counts of. contributing to the delinquency or. dependency of a minor firstdegree. misdemeanor, how do you plead to those. charges? >> No contest. >> Are you pleading no contest because you. believe that's in your best interest? >> Yes. >> So Hill Broadan entered a no contest. plea to three misdemeanor counts and in. exchange and this is different from.

pleading guilty because when you're. pleading guilty you're admitting your. role in the crimes. You know no contest. is says I'm not fighting it. I'm. accepting my conviction, but I'm not. going to make a formal admission on the. record. Okay. In exchange for this. though, prosecutors, they dropped that. felony charge, that felony child neglect. charge, and several other counts that. were tied to the case. And then it. became the time for the judge to finally. hand down her sentence. >> As to count one, openhouse party second. degree misdemeanor, I'm going to. withhold adjudication and sentence you.

to 6 months of supervised probation. Um, count three contributing to the. delinquency or dependency of a minor. first-degree misdemeanor. I'm going to. withhold adjudication and sentence you. to one year of supervised probation. That will be concurrent with count one. Count four, contributing to the. delinquency or dependency of a minor. firstdegree misdemeanor on a withhold. adjudication sentence you to 12 months. of probation. That will be consecutive. to count three. Counts one and three.

Um, now all standard conditions of. probation will apply. They're available. in the statute. Should also be in your. judgment and sentence. I want to go over. the special conditions of probation. You are to have no unsupervised conduct. or contact no unsupervised contact with. a minor less than 18 unless the minor's. parent or legal guardian is present. There are to be no house parties at your. home or gatherings where alcohol and/or. marijuana is being possessed or used and.

minors or persons less than 21 years of. age are present. Um there's a cost of. prosecution $100. Cost of investigation. The amount is ordered but reserved um as. to the amount to be decided later either. at a hearing or by stipulation. And I see the additional. conditions. See if there's any. All. right. There are some additional. conditions. You'll remain at your.

residence between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00. a.m. due to a curfew imposed unless. otherwise directed by the court or is. modified by probation and parole. You'll. maintain full-time employment and or. attend school or vocational school. full-time or a combination of school. work during the term of your superv. supervision. and you need to make a good. faith effort to do so. You shall submit. your person, property, place of. residence, vehicle, or personal effects. to warrantless search at any time by any. probation or community control officer.

You need to report to probation today up. here on the fourth floor. I will give. you 23 months to pay all costs. associated with this case. State, do you. have an announcement as to counts two, five, six, and seven? Your honor, the state would null pro. counts two, five, six, and seven. And. the only other thing I would ask is that. once restitution is determined that that. um be divided into um equal number of.

her remaining probation so that the cost. of investigation is is also paid before. her probation would expire. >> All right. We'll discuss that um if we. need to at any hearing or stipulation, you can include that information. Um, anything else um, state defense or madam. clerk that I need to address? >> All right. >> No, judge. >> All right. Ma'am, you have 30 days to. appeal the judgment and sentence in this.

case. Thank you and good luck. Thank. you. >> Now, I know that sentence can be a. little confusing with all the legal. terms there. So, let me just break it. down very simply for you. She's not. going to prison. She is not serving any. prison time at all. No. Elizabeth. Elraigan was sentenced to two years of. supervised probation, but the conditions. of that probation are what really. defined the punishment, okay? Because. the judge laid them out one by one. For. the next two years, if she violates. this, she may go to prison, but for the. next two years, she can't be alone with.

anyone under 18 unless that minor's. parent or guardian is present. She's. banned from having any house parties or. gatherings at her home where alcohol or. marijuana is present, and anyone under. 21 is there. She has an 11:00 p.m. to. 7:00 a.m. curfew. She has to maintain. full employment or be in school. Her. probation officer can search her, search. her car, her house at any time without a. warrant. She also has to pay court costs. and restitution for the police. investigation. So that's the legal. outcome, right? No jail time, two years. of her life under a microscope, very.

strict rules. But to really understand. what she was pleading to, you got to. grasp the full weight of the case the. state had built. Because you got to. start from the beginning. You have to. look at the evidence that led to her. arrest in the first place from the. police affidavit. And this all goes back. to again that night in January, January. 19th. And this is when neighbors called. 911 to report the chaos that was. happening next door. >> So there's like 75 like cars of like. high school students like driving up and. down the street. There's like this like.

big party down the down the street, but. they're like pulling in and out of. school driveways. like they were like. called me like a racial slur and it's. I'm afraid something bad's going to. happen like they're blocking the street. so somebody should just come by and. check it out. >> So the cops they show up to the street. it's jammed with cars. It's just after. 8:40 p.m. Kids are everywhere. They ask. whose party it is. And according to the. report, the juveniles they talked to. quote claimed they didn't know whose. party it was. So, the police called the. homeowner, again, the former principal,

Elizabeth Helradigan, around 9:18 p.m. Here's what the affidavit says happened. on that call. Quote, "Corporal Brown. called Elizabeth Hilligan at 2118 hours. Corporal Brown told Elizabeth that there. was an open house party involving. juveniles drinking and using marijuana. Elizabeth told Corporal Brown that she. was down the street and would take care. of it. But according to the police. investigation, that is not what. happened." The affidavit goes on to say, "The investigation revealed that. Elizabeth not only allowed the party to. continue, but she helped set up. preparations for the party with other.

juveniles." Again, can you imagine what. this would have looked like if she went. to trial? So, things spiral from there. over the next hour or so because while. this is going on, police get a wild hoax. call about shootings and some sort of. satanic activity in a nearby park. It's. all unfounded, by the way. So then they. pull over a car that almost hits a. patrol car. Inside are two teenagers. I. mentioned this before, but the driver. gets arrested for DUI with a blood. alcohol content of.118. The passenger has marijuana. This is. according to police reports. They go.

back to the house and an officer finds a. teenager throwing up the front yard. And. that's when we see the other defendant, Carly Anderson, emerged, the third grade. teacher. The next day, January 20th, police called Anderson. The affidavit. describes pretty telling conversation. Quote, Carly stated, "Hell no." and. advised she wanted no part of this. Carly then told me that our phone call. better not be recorded. Carly was. advised that everything I do is. recorded. Carly then stated that she was.

okay because she did not say any names. So, police claimed that Hill Broadan. also stopped cooperating with them at. that point. But I will tell you the most. critical allegations came from the. students that police interviewed over. the following days. They confirmed that. over a hundred kids were there. They. told police this verbatim from the. affidavit. Most students knew that. Elizabeth was the principal of Roosevelt. Elementary and advised that parties like. this happen once or twice a month. Students also advised they arrived as. early as 1945 hours and Elizabeth was.

having students help make preparations. for the party. At that time, alcohol was. ready and available in multiple red. white coolers inside the residence. Students also advised that Elizabeth. made no attempt to stop the party at any. point and advised that she seemed okay. with what was happening. So, that was. the core of the prosecution's case, right? The allegation wasn't just a. one-time mistake. It was that she. facilitated it, the alcohol was. prepared, she was present, that this was. part of a pattern. Those allegations, they form the basis for the original,

again, more serious felony charge. And. then you go to the scene. That body cam. puts you right in the middle of it. An. officer arrives, heads to the backyard. where all that noise is coming from. >> They're supposed to be fetching me the. uh master of ceremonies, but. >> cool. And that guy is moving his truck that's. parked in the middle of the road. >> Cool. >> So, we have one issue addressed. >> Hey,

>> whose party is it? >> Uh. Okay. >> You don't know, huh? >> I do not want to pray for you. >> You said you don't want to wet. >> his shirt. >> Well, it's like a white life party. So, I do want to pray for you. >> Oh my god, you got me. >> He's like a like a preacher. >> Is this your party? >> No. >> Okay. Do you also not know whose party. it is? >> You just saw the fire and showed up like. the like the bat signal. >> Yeah, it's like a white lie party.

>> Oh my god. So, how do I know if you're. telling me the truth? >> That's funny. >> Do you need anything? >> I need you guys to shut up and fix the. parking out here. >> Okay. So, the music needs to stay down. >> I mean, obviously you guys are in the. middle of a neighborhood with 60 people. here. What do you think? >> Okay. Okay. What truck is it? What kind. of truck is it? >> There's Dude, the whole parking. situation is situation. >> Look at it. >> Yeah. I'll give you the opportunity. before we go up down the street and. start writing parking tickets. >> Okay.

>> The cars need to be facing the right. way. We got. >> I would say start parking in the yard. Fill the yard up first. Okay. >> And then park in the road. And the car. needs to be facing the correct way in. the lane. >> Yes, sir. >> I'll move on. >> Which one's yours? >> Did you see? I talked to you. >> Oh, okay. >> You said it wasn't like that incorrect, but I don't mind moving it for you. >> Go ahead. >> All right. Thank you, sir. We appreciate. it. We will get that done. All right. Thank you. >> And whose party is it? >> We're not, sir. >> Okay. >> We'll try to figure it out, but thank. you. >> And while officers are dealing with all.

that chaos outside, that's when things. escalate. Cuz you have another officer. who finds a teenager in the front yard. sick, sitting on the ground. >> How much you have to drink? They're. asking for a reason. Cuz if you need. some type of. medical attention, >> no, I think he's good. I don't think he. needs medical. This is getting home. >> Yeah, I actually think this this is his. right here. >> How old are you?

>> I think this is a time where you should. answer the question. >> How's it going? I'm the one taking him. home. >> Oh, well, I need to know how old he is. first. You guys seem to know. You guys. all think this is funny. I mean, I could. have you all call your parents right. now. >> This isn't funny. >> No, I don't. >> I don't know what to say. Yeah, I don't. either. >> So, if you can't talk, I'm going to take. you to the hospital.

>> So, how old is he? >> I really don't know. >> I don't. >> Where does he live? Where you Where are. you taking him? >> Um, he lives on the other in the Four. Street North neighborhood. He's on the. far side next to the bank. >> I was just helping him. >> Yeah. >> 36. Can you have medical respond to. please. reference a juvenile possible. intoxication? I need them to evaluate.

him. >> Sir, I'm trying to be as possible. I'm. I'm trying to take him home. >> Yeah, juvenile possible intoxication. I. need him evaluated. >> And then I want you to watch the house. in the background of this footage, okay? because you see someone who police later. identified as Hill Broadan walk out, stand in the driveway looking at the. scene, then go back inside and turn off. the front lights. Fire rescue. They. arrive for that sick teen. And that is.

when they meet Anderson who starts. appearing to confront the first. responders. >> Oh, why did you put me off? Tell him to. put me in handcuffs. What the fuck is. wrong with them? >> What? >> I'm concerned about a child that's being. put into a machine into one of these. vehicles and it's none of my business. You say something to them. >> Well, they can't dispose of you. No, you. tell Cocoa Beach has gone mad and nasty.

>> They don't work for us. They That's Bard. County Fire Rescue. >> Well, you know I'm a teacher. Who the. did you put who who got put in that car. >> Well, it's a kid, but they just like. they can't disclose. >> No, it's I was here hanging out at this. party. I mean, what the what's wrong. with them? >> Okay, >> you guys got to ask better. >> Do you want the truth? There was like. 200 kids here drinking. >> I've already known. >> drinking. Okay. And you're drunk as.

well. >> I'm not drunk. >> Yes, you are. I smell it. >> Oh, you smell it. You. >> All right, let's do We're not getting. through that. But. >> I mean, do a test. purpose. >> But I'm saying, but I'm concerned. >> And you're intoxicated, too. >> Oh, who cares? So, I could get in your. car and ride with you or call. >> because he's 17 and he was here drinking. at a party. >> Why are you yelling at me? >> Because you're yelling. >> You're here with your boss having a. party with 200 kids who are drinking.

Get out of my face now. >> That's on your camera. >> It is. The aftermath played out over the next. few days. Anderson was arrested that. Friday. As I mentioned, she was charged. Hilligan was arrested in charge. And. then I mentioned that the felony charge. was dropped as part of the plea deal. Now, as for Anderson, she already went. to trial. Jury found her guilty in May. of 2025 of misdemeanor disorderly. intoxication and resisting an officer. without violence. She was sentenced to.

one year of probation. And after just a. few months per reporting from outlet. Sports Coast Daily, her attorney argued. that she'd fully complied with the. conditions thus far. So her probation. should be ended early, but the judge. denied that motion. There you go. Possible end of the story. We shall see. It's all we have for you right now here. on Sidebar, everybody. Thank you so much. for joining us. And as always, please. subscribe on YouTube, Apple Podcast, Spotify, wherever you should get your. podcast. We're also up on NBC's Peacock. as well. If you want to follow me x. Instagram, you can check out my.

NewsNation show, Jesse Weber Live, Monday through Friday, 11 p.m. Eastern. I'll see you next time, everybody.