A former elementary school principal accused of hosting an alcohol-fueled gathering for underage students at her Florida home will avoid jail time after reaching an agreement with prosecutors.
Elizabeth Hill-Brodigan, 48, appeared in a Brevard County courtroom on Monday, Feb. 2, and entered a no contest plea to one misdemeanor count of hosting an open house party where minors were consuming alcohol, along with two misdemeanor counts of contributing to the delinquency of minors.
In exchange, prosecutors recommended a sentence of two years of probation. Under the terms of the deal, Hill-Brodigan may be eligible to have all three counts cleared from her record if she completes probation without incident.
The charges stem from a Jan. 19, 2025 incident at Hill-Brodigan’s home in Cocoa Beach, a city about five miles south of Cape Canaveral. Police alleged that an open house party was being held where underage students were consuming alcohol and using drugs, according to a police report.
Officers who responded after neighbors complained reportedly found one teenager shaking uncontrollably and vomiting on the front lawn. The teen was taken to a nearby hospital and treated for alcohol poisoning, according to the report. Another teenager was arrested on suspicion of DUI.
Police said more than 100 juveniles — many between 13 and 17 years old — were at the residence.
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Investigators initially accused Hill-Brodigan of being uncooperative during the early stages of the case. In court Monday, however, prosecutors said they were satisfied with the resolution after the judge accepted the plea.
As part of the agreement, the state dropped a felony child neglect charge that could have carried prison time. Hill-Brodigan was also ordered to have no unsupervised contact with minors and is barred from hosting parties involving alcohol or marijuana if anyone under 21 is present.
Karly Anderson, a school teacher arrested alongside Hill-Brodigan in connection with the incident, was also sentenced to probation and is now appealing that outcome.
The appeal follows an unsuccessful effort by Anderson’s attorney to end her probation early. In November 2025, her lawyer argued that she had already met the terms of her probation and that her charges — resisting an officer and disorderly intoxication — were not tied to the involvement of minors, WKMG reported.
“She’s done everything she’s supposed to do,” the defense attorney said at the time, according to the outlet. “It’s time for her probation to be terminated.”
The judge denied the request.
Both women were fired from their positions following the incident.
