The former Pi Kappa Alpha members avoided jail time in the alcohol-related death of a Northern Illinois University freshman in 2012. The victim’s mother told BuzzFeed News that they showed “no remorse.”
When 22 former members of a fraternity at Northern Illinois University were sentenced last week in the hazing death of 19-year-old freshman David Bogenberger, his mother said she was struck by the lack of remorse.
"At sentencing, they wouldn't even look at us," Ruth Bogenberger told BuzzFeed News on Tuesday. "No one has said anything to us in terms of expressing remorse for their actions."
In what is being called the largest hazing prosecution in U.S. history, 22 former members of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity were sentenced on May 8 for their roles in the 2012 hazing death of Ruth Bogenberger's son.
David Bogenberger was found dead at the off-campus fraternity the morning after he was forced to consume excessive amounts of alcohol within a short span of time at an unsanctioned party — "Mom's and Dad's Night" — on Nov. 1, 2012. His blood-alcohol content was 0.351%, or four times higher than the legal limit of .08, authorities said.
Originally, the five officers of Pi Kappa Alpha responsible for organizing the party were charged with felony hazing — a crime that carries a sentence of up to six years in prison. But they and others avoided jail time after negotiating plea agreements with prosecutors.
Five of the former frat members pleaded guilty to reckless conduct and were sentenced to 24 months of probation, fined $1,000, and ordered to perform 100 hours of community service. Seventeen others pleaded guilty to lesser misdemeanor charges and were sentenced to two years of court supervision, fined $500, and ordered to perform 100 hours of community service, the Daily Herald reported.
Ruth Bogenberger, who was in the courtroom with her husband, would not comment on whether she felt the men deserved jail time, but hoped the legal case would make people realize that hazing needs to stop.
"Kids are being harmed," she said. "Kids are dying."
from BuzzFeed - USNews http://ift.tt/1E4HS8v
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