Van Thien Pham, 47, entered a plea of guilty today for illegally selling alcohol to under-aged teens. 

Van Pham was working at Alameda Square Liquors on March 13, 2007 when he sold liquor to an under-aged teen. The teen and his friends drank the alcohol and later that night while driving around Green Mountain, the driver, Nanette LaFleur, caused a two-car collision that claimed the life of 17-year-old Samara Stricklen and seriously injured 20-year-old Seth Mutschler.

Pham was indicted by the District Attorney’s Office in June 2007 on ten counts of Unlawfully Providing Alcohol to a Minor. During the course of the grand jury investigation, prosecutors learned that March 13, 2007, was not the only time Pham had sold liquor to minors and that he previously sold liquor to the same teen that made the purchase on the night of the collision on Green Mountain. Although ordered by the court not to work in a liquor store, Van Pham was again working at Alameda Square Liquors on April 14, 2010, when he sold a 24-ounce bottle of Corona beer to an under-aged male without asking for identification. The under-aged male was an undercover Police Explorer as part of a liquor store compliance operation being conducted by the Lakewood Police Department. The liquor store is owned by Pham’s wife.

Working in a liquor store and the illegal sale of liquor are both in violation of Pham’s probation in the 2007 case. On June 14, 2010, his probation was revoked. 

Pham is scheduled to be sentenced in this case and his probation revocation on July 19, 2010.