BEDFORD – More than two dozen mostly college-age area residents are accused of participating in an underage drinking party inside a martial arts studio early yesterday morning, police allege.

Police said they spotted a group of young people in the west side parking lot of a commercial building located at 292 Route 101 about 1:14 a.m. The youths ran inside a side door when they saw the police cruiser.

Outside the door, police said they found containers of alcohol. Inside the ATA Martial Arts studio, 26 youths ranging in age from 15 to 23 were having an underage drinking party, according to police.

The building also houses Mortgage Partners, Alpha Title and New Hope Christian Fellowship.

Erica Therrien, 19, of Goffstown, was taken into custody and charged with facilitating an underage alcohol party and prohibited sales.

Therrien is listed on the ATA Martial Arts Web site as a 3rd-degree black belt and "level 2 instructor" at the taekwondo school. The Web site describes her as placing in the top 10 in the ATA World Taekwondo Championships, 2007-2008.

ATA Martial Arts owner Mark Harbinson and co-owner Emily Therrien could not be reached for comment last night.

Last night, police said Suzann Harbinson, Erica Therrien's mother, knew there was going to be a gathering at the studio, but did not know there would be alcohol.

Erica Therrien's charges are both Class A misdemeanors, which carry penalties of up to one year in jail. Police said she was released on $500 personal recognizance and ordered to appear Jan. 4 in Merrimack District Court.

Fourteen others were charged with internal possession of alcohol, a violation which carries a maximum $1,000 fine, police said.

They are: Sara K. Crane, 18, of Concord; Myles Kelly, 19, of Dunbarton; Christopher Luscomb, 20, of Manchester; Taylor K. Ientile, 19, of Manchester; Jared Ientile, 20, of Hooksett; Nathan D. Chouinard, of Goffstown; Sara E. Greenhalge, 20, of Manchester; Sarah M. Nahodil, 19, of Manchester; Brenna M. Gailinas, 20, of Goffstown; Brendan Kurylo, 20, of Weare; Kerry Weir, 19, of Goffstown; Andrew D. Clough, 19, of Goffstown; Kali R. Welch, 20, of Goffstown; and Kelly J. Ashburner, 19, of Goffstown. Each received a summons to appear in Merrimack District Court on Jan. 4.

A 15-year-old juvenile also will be petitioned to appear before juvenile court for internal possession of alcohol, police said.

Another eight alleged party-goers were taken into protective custody and released from the scene to sober adults, police said.

Earlier this month, New London police took 105 people into custody at an underage drinking party; 91 of those turned out to be students at nearby Colby-Sawyer College. Three Colby-Sawyer students were charged with hosting the party at their off-campus house.

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