BIG RAPIDS, MI – Three people have been charged for their alleged involvement in a Mecosta County party attended by nearly 2,000 last weekend.

Brittany Johnson, 20, of Cedar Springs, James Taylor, 21, of Hinton Township, and Daniel Misner, 20, of Howard City are charged under liquor control laws with furnishing a location without a liquor license for alcohol consumption and collecting a fee.

The felony charge could mean up to a year in jail, if they are convicted.

“Many of the organizers have gone on TV, have acknowledged their behavior and their conduct, and we certainly appreciate them for doing that because it’s made our job a lot easier,” said Mecosta County Prosecutor Peter Jaklevic at a press conference on Thursday, Aug. 7.

Taylor and Johnson have both spoken publicly about their part as organizers of the party.

Jaklevic said Taylor owned the property at 4708 70th Ave. in Hinton Township where the “Project P” party took place last Saturday night.

Misner is believed to have collected parking fees. Authorities would not confirm if he was the “Danny” whose birthday the party was in celebration of, according to social media postings.

Johnson was arrested Wednesday night and police are still looking to arrest Taylor and Misner.

Taylor left for California, Jaklevic said. He was supposed to head to California in the coming week, but seemingly left early, the prosecutor said.

The incident is still under investigation and further charges could be filed against the three, as well as others involved with the party, he said.

The party attendee who drove into a nearby house after leaving the party has been charged with drunk driving.

Police are still investigating the possible sex assault of a woman at the gathering. Mecosta County Sheriff Todd Purcell said the investigation has been somewhat hampered in learning details, because the woman was intoxicated.

Those already facing charges might face civil liability in the incident, if the woman were to sue, Jaklevic said.

In addition, possible fines for the police and EMS response effort might be on the table.

As for the social media discussion of similar gatherings in the future, Purcell said police are monitoring social media and have determined possible locations outside Mecosta County where another might take place.

The sheriff’s department, working with Michigan State Police in the investigation, is prepared to aid other counties should a third party take place, he said.

They are also reviewing tactics for dealing with these parties, Purcell said.

Police did not try to enter the last weekend's party due to safety concerns for attendees, as well a concern for officers based on social media discussion of fighting the police – a decision Purcell said he stands by.

In the future, a public nuisance statute may be used to permanently confiscate and forfeit cars driven to the location of similar parties, Jaklevic said.

“It’s (really) important that people know this is criminal activity,” Jaklevic said. “They could have their car taken away. They could themselves get in trouble, potentially criminally, for attending these.”