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Brian Holloway Case: 6 arrested in vandalism of ex-NFL player's home

Brian Holloway
Former NFL offensive lineman Brian Holloway stands in front of his rural vacation home Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2013, in Stephentown, N.Y.; the house was trashed during a Labor Day weekend party that he didn't know about. AP Photo/Michael Hill

(CBS/AP) ALBANY, N.Y. - Six people were arrested on charges they were among hundreds of young partygoers who trashed a former NFL player's vacation home, and police said more arrests were expected.

The arrests on Thursday came after former New England Patriots and Los Angeles Raiders offensive lineman Brian Holloway said he signed papers authorizing the Rensselaer County sheriff to bring charges in the Labor Day weekend party, which was attended by up to 400 teenagers.

Parents of house-crasher kids may sue ex-NFL player

Holloway said that among those charged was a young man he had taken into his family for a time as a homeless teen, who's accused of organizing and promoting the party. He said investigators have told him the number of people charged could end up in the hundreds as they work through the sheer volume of participants.

"Everyone that broke the law, I'm pressing charges against," Holloway said. "The parents had a chance and students had a chance to come forward, and only four did."

CBS Affiliate WRGB reports that the six arrested -- four teenagers and two men in their twenties -- were arraigned Thursday night at Stephentown Town Court. The six have been released on their own recognizance but will be back in court in October.

Sgt. Shane Holcomb of the Rensselaer Sheriff's Office told WRGB, "We are asking for the cooperation of anyone who was at the party, and their parents." He said the act of coming forward would "definitely" favorably affect their case.

Holloway, who played offensive tackle for the Patriots and Raiders in the 1980s, gained national attention by reposting party pictures the teens had put on social media websites.

He said he posted them on the website helpmesave300.com in an effort to get the teens to come forward, take responsibility for their actions and change their behavior.

Brian Holloway

Some of the damage that occurred at Brian Holloway's property during an unauthorized party.

Instead, he said, some parents were angry about his website and there was even a threatened lawsuit.

"I tried to be as accommodating as I could, but they took their stand by not showing up," Holloway said.

The partiers caused at least $20,000 in damage to his rural vacation home near the Massachusetts border in Stephentown, including broken windows and holes in the wall, he said.

Police said a ringleader of the party was 19-year-old Seth Hawk, the young man Holloway said he had taken into his family a few years ago. Hawk, of Grafton, faces felony charges of burglary and criminal mischief and misdemeanor charges of endangering the welfare of a child and unlawfully dealing with a child. He's accused of advertising the party and providing alcohol.

Three of the other arrested people face felony charges including burglary and larceny, and two are charged with misdemeanors, including trespassing. They range in age from 17 to 21.

A phone number wasn't available for Hawk, and authorities said they didn't know the names of the arrested people's lawyers.

Holloway said Hawk was a classmate of his son and had a troubled youth but found stability living as part of his family when he was about 15. He said hearing about Hawk's involvement "was a shocker."

"We're still pulling for him," he said. "This may be the thing to get him on track."

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