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Brendan Young, 28, who was president of the now-defunct chapter
of Beta Theta Pi in 2017, and Daniel Casey, 27, who was vice
president and pledge master, were sentenced in Centre County
Court to two to four months behind bars, followed by three years
of probation and community service. Each will be eligible for
work release.
Young and Casey both pleaded guilty in July to 14 counts of
hazing and a single count of reckless endangerment, all
misdemeanors. They were the last two criminal defendants to be
sentenced in a case that prompted Pennsylvania lawmakers to
crack down on hazing.
They were ordered to report to the Centre County Correctional
Facility on Monday.
“Our thoughts are with the Piazza family and everyone affected
by this tragedy,” Attorney General Michelle Henry said in a
statement. “Nothing can undo the harm Tim suffered seven years
ago — nothing can bring Tim back to his family and friends."
Messages seeking comment were left with Young’s defense lawyer,
Julian Allatt, and Casey’s lawyer, Steven Trialonis.
Piazza, a 19-year-old engineering student from Lebanon, New
Jersey, and 13 other pledges were seeking to join the fraternity
the night Piazza consumed at least 18 drinks in less than two
hours. Security camera footage documented Piazza’s excruciating
final hours, including a fall down the basement steps that
required others to carry him back upstairs. He exhibited signs
of severe pain as he spent the night on a first-floor couch.
It took hours for help to be called. Piazza suffered severe head
and abdominal injuries and died at a hospital.
More than two dozen fraternity members faced a variety of
charges at one point. More than a dozen pleaded guilty to hazing
and alcohol violations, while a smaller number entered a
diversion program designed for first-time, nonviolent offenders.
Prosecutors were unable to get more serious charges — including
involuntary manslaughter and aggravated assault — approved by
judges.
Penn State banned the fraternity. Pennsylvania state lawmakers
passed legislation making the most severe forms of hazing a
felony, requiring schools to maintain policies to combat hazing
and allowing the confiscation of fraternity houses where hazing
has occurred.
Had that statute been in place at the time of Piazza's death,
the defendants would have faced stiffer penalties, according to
the attorney general's office.
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