Updated 11:22 a.m. Oct. 24

MASSENA -- The chief professional officer of the Boys and Girls Club of Massena is accused of providing alcohol to minors on Oct. 7 and is charged with two misdemeanors, according to state police.

Debra A. Donatto, 51, of Massena was charged at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday with three counts of first-degree unlawfully dealing with a child and one count of endangering the welfare of a child, troopers said.

Tpr. Jennifer Fleishman, the state police Troop B public information officer, says Donatto could face more charges.

Tim Currier, the club board’s president, said Donatto resigned on Wednesday after being asked to do so.

“The Boys & Girls Club of Massena always puts the safety of our children first, and we will continue to do so,” Currier wrote in an emailed statement. “This morning, I asked for and received the resignation of our CPO.”

In a Wednesday morning phone interview, Donatto said the alleged incident occurred during a birthday party for her daughter who was turning 15. It was at 407 State Route 131, which many call “the Wounded Warriors house.”

“The incident that occurred on October 7 was not a club event, nor did it occur at our clubhouse. However, we hold our Chief Professional Officer to a very high standard and expect the goals and objectives of the Boys & Girls Club to be upheld in all activities at all times,” Currier said in his email.

He said club officials will now search for a replacement.

“Because this is a personnel issue and the circumstances occurred outside of the job duties of the CPO, no comment on the specific incident or allegations will be made,” Currier said. Although we do not ordinarily expect abrupt changes in staff, we plan for and anticipate the possibility. Our current staff will manage the club’s operation and activities as we conduct the search for a new CPO. That search will commence immediately.”

The charges stem from a complaint state police say they received at 2:30 p.m. Oct. 10.

Donatto said she hosted a birthday party for her daughter, who was turning 15, at 407 State Route 131, which is sometimes referred to as “the Wounded Warriors house.”

“I had no idea kids were smuggling alcohol into that party,” Donatto said in a Wednesday morning phone interview. “They were sneaking it in the back rooms. There were kids showing up at the house uninvited.”

She said she did not know what was going on until one of the teens’ parents showed up, and claims Massena High School student athletes were to blame for the trouble.

“Not one of these kids were Boys and Girls Club kids. They were kids on sports teams here in Massena, from good families,” Donatto said. “I’m just really disappointed. I would have expected at least one kid to come up to me and said ‘Hey, this is going on.’”

"I thought I could trust these kids … I’ve had parties at my house, I’ve had parties at the Wings’ house. This is the third year I had my daughter’s party there.”

The half-million dollar estate was donated to Operation Grateful Nation, a veterans charity, in 2013 by John and Resa Wing.

Donatto is to make her initial appearance on Nov. 1 at 5:30 p.m. in Louisville Town Court, troopers said.