Former Penn State fraternity members sentenced to prison for hazing incident at fraternity that fatally injured Tim Piazza | National

PHILADELPHIA – A Center County judge on Tuesday sentenced the former leaders of a Pennsylvania State University fraternity where Timothy Piazza was fatally injured in 2017 to two to four months in prison and three years of probation.

Brendan Young, 28, of Philadelphia, and Daniel Casey, 27, originally of Ronkonkoma, N.Y. – who was a former president and vice president of the fraternity – were ordered to report to the Center County Correctional Facility on Monday. They pleaded guilty in July to one count of reckless endangerment and several counts of hazing after participating in an alcoholic hazing party seven years ago.

Casey and Young are the last two fraternity brothers to be convicted in this case, and they received the harshest sentences; According to the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office, several others were previously placed under house arrest.

Arguing his sentence, Judge Brian Marshall said near the end of the five-hour trial that both men had assumed leadership roles at Beta Theta Pi and knew of its long-standing hazing practices. They should have shown leadership that night by ending the ritual, he said. And while they may have accomplished much in their lives over the last seven and a half years, “there is no doubt that Timothy Piazza” “would have had an equally bright future,” Marshall said.

But Piazza, then a sophomore studying mechanical engineering, never got the chance. That February night he suffered the gauntlet of harassment, later falling down the stairs and lying on a couch for nearly 12 hours before anyone called for help. He later died of his injuries in hospital.

The case drew national attention in part because video surveillance from the home was played in court that night – and about an hour of it was played again for Marshall on Tuesday – which showed Piazza falling repeatedly and fraternity brothers was carried to a couch.

“Nothing will bring Tim back”

“Everything has changed for me,” Evelyn Piazza told the judge in her victim impact statement. “The thought of Tim and missing Tim always runs through my mind. Tears always lurk just beneath the surface of my emotions. I have PTSD…It destroyed my faith and my belief in God.”

Jim Piazza said the family needs to hold the fraternity's leadership accountable. The brotherhood, he said, “played Russian roulette with the pledges, and Tim got the ball.”

As Young and Casey were sentenced, the Piazzas watched from the front row of the courtroom along with their son Michael, who also made a statement. Young and Casey had hoped to avoid prison time; Her attorneys had sought probation, blaming that night's events on a flawed fraternity culture rather than their clients' leadership.

But the Piazzas, who have spent the last seven and a half years educating students and parents about the dangers of hazing, enforcing tougher hazing laws, urging universities to impose punishments and advocating for justice for their son, said last week, they felt like they were in prison. The time was deserved.

Speaking outside the courthouse after the trial, Jim Piazza called the verdict “well-reasoned and fair” and hoped it would send the message that “harassing someone to death and hazing in general is not the case in Center County or the state of Pennsylvania.” are acceptable.” .”

The Piazzas were instrumental in passing a new hazing law in Pennsylvania named after their son.

“Nothing brings Tim back,” Evelyn Piazza said. “But I think it was important that the prison was judged in a way that future victimizers would look at it and realize that the victimization has serious consequences and that you can't just blame the system.”

“Serious … reputational consequences”

During his testimony, Casey stood outside the Piazzas and tearfully addressed the court.

“Every day I think about Tim, your family and the role I played in this tragedy,” said Casey, who has since married and graduated from college.

Young, who remained seated and facing the judge, noted that he has since graduated magna cum laude from Temple University with a degree in accounting and finance and recently received a promotion at the company where he works.

He expressed sadness and regret over his actions that night and said he should have done something to stop the intimidation activities.

“I’m really sorry,” he said. “I should have intervened and called for help to make sure Tim was safe.”

Neither Young nor Casey's attorneys responded to calls for comment.

Prior to the sentencing, Jeff Rundle, CEO of the national Beta Theta Pi fraternity, issued a statement on behalf of the prosecution.

“The consequences of this case should serve as a stark warning to others who may one day impact the lives of young people,” he said.

He said the fraternity faces “serious legal, financial and reputational consequences” following Piazza's death and the permanent ban of Beta Theta Pi from Penn State's campus. The fraternity's attempts to establish branches at other locations have been “delayed, canceled or outright rejected,” he said.

More than two dozen other Beta Theta Pi members previously filed lawsuits including charges of harassment, conspiracy to commit harassment and providing alcohol to minors. (A civil lawsuit the Piazzas filed against members of the fraternity is ongoing.)

Young and Casey also face compensation for the Piazzas, but that will be determined at future hearings, their attorney said. They were also assigned community service.

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