Family Court’s top judge this week sent three Barrington teenagers to the juvenile drug and alcohol court program, prompted by charges that they bought alcohol linked to a Nov. 5 crash that killed 16-year-old Jonathan Converse.

Family Court Chief Judge Jeremiah S. Jeremiah Jr. also prohibited two of the teens from participating in athletics, telling one of them, “No afterschool activities. You don’t deserve to do anything. You’re a disgrace to the community.”

The Barrington police filed Family Court petitions accusing the teens of being wayward, a lesser charge than delinquency, a court official said. The teens were arraigned before Jeremiah on Monday.

Detective Josh Birrell alleged that two of the teens went to S&M Liquors in Providence on Nov. 5 and bought three 30-packs of Busch Light beer and a bottle of vodka. “The alcohol was then given to a group of acquaintances,” Birrell said, and that group included the Barrington teenager who has been accused of drinking beer and driving twice the speed limit before slamming into a tree, killing Converse, one of his passengers.

Birrell alleged that on the same day the third teenager went to Douglas Liquor in East Providence with “an 18-year-old acquaintance.” He said they bought a 30-pack of Busch beer and “later gave approximately five beers” to the driver charged in the fatal crash.

Benjamin W. Geldmaker, 18, of 128 Maple Ave., Barrington, faces a misdemeanor charge of underage possession of alcohol in District Court. While Geldmaker is in the adult court system, the other teens involved are in Family Court and authorities have not identified them by name.

Prosecutors have said that before the fatal crash, the driver and a small group of other teens drank beer in the backyard of the Barrington home of the driver’s father. Prosecutors have said five boys each drank five or six beers before heading to a Taco Bell in nearby Seekonk before returning to Barrington. At 10:50 p.m., four boys were in a car when the driver “burned rubber” and reached 60 mph in a 25-mph zone before slamming into a tree on New Meadow Road, according to prosecutors. The driver’s lawyer has entered denials on his behalf.

“I am tired,” Jeremiah said during one of the arraignments. “I am tired of these kids not learning the responsibility. I am tired of these kids not knowing the dangers. We lost a child.”

In all, four Barrington teenagers have died in incidents linked to alcohol in the last few years, Jeremiah said. “That doesn’t happen in Barrington alone,” he said. “It happens all over the state. Just last week I had four kids from other parts of the state. Kids have to learn responsibility.”

Jeremiah said he could send the three teenagers to the state Training School for at least five days based on the conclusion that they are dangers to the community. But he offered them the chance to instead enter Family Court’s juvenile drug and alcohol court, and all three chose the drug court program.

In an interview, Jeremiah explained that the program lasts about 90 days and involves trips to a hospital emergency room to see victims of drug- and alcohol-related incidents and accidents. Also, parents and their children meet with counselors to discuss alcohol and family issues, he said.

“We teach them the dangers of alcohol,” Jeremiah said during one court session. “The parents have to be involved.”

If the teens successfully complete the drug court program, the charges are dropped and are no longer on their records, he said.

During one of the arraignments, Birrell said two of the teens went to S&M after hockey practice.

“Are they hockey players?” Jeremiah asked.

“The last two were, your honor,” Birrell said.

“This gentleman and the last one?” Jeremiah asked.

“Yes,” Birrell said, adding, “They are not playing hockey this year.”

Jeremiah told that teen, “No hockey. No athletic events at all.” And the judge said, “Barrington, you make sure that’s enforced.”

Birrell said, “I’ll speak to the school, your honor.”

Jeremiah then called another of the teens back in, telling him, “I understand you play hockey. That is taken away from you. You cannot be involved in any athletic events.”

In an interview, Jeremiah was asked why he barred the teens from participating in athletics. “I think it’s a privilege,” he said. “It’s something that has to be earned. I’m sure if you play hockey, you enjoy it. If you follow the rules, you are entitled to play. If you don’t follow the rules, you are not entitled to play.”

efitzpat@projo.com