34-year-old alum charged in beating of a pledge

More evidence that alums are involved in fraternity hazing that battered a pledge’s kidneys. When will the law add “corrupting a minor” to the battery charges?  34 years old? 27? Grow up, alums

Christopher McKagen, Staff Writer
November 12, 2011
Filed under Breaking News

Three Francis Marion University students and six former students were arrested Thursday by the Florence County Sheriff’s Office in connection with an off-campus hazing incident on Oct. 23 which resulted in the hospitalization of one student. A sheriff’s office press release stated the suspects allegedly beat the victim with a paddle “to such an extent as to have resulted in serious bodily injury requiring an extended stay at an area hospital.”

Media General’s SC Now news site reported the victim “was paddled so severely, his buttocks bled and he suffered kidney damage that required hospitalization two days later.”

All of the suspects are current or alumni-status members of FMU’s chapter of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity.

According to the sheriff’s office, the following suspects were charged with one count of hazing each:  Maurice Robinson, 34; Nicholas Washington, 27; Miles Norton, 24; Chappelle Smith, 23; Kevin Cooper, 23; Uribe Norton, 22; Marcus Raven, 22; Henry Watson, 22; and Jatravian Brown, 21.  The release lists Robinson as living at the address where the alleged incident took place.

Hazing is a misdemeanor crime punishable by a fine of up to $500 or imprisonment of up to one year, or both. The suspects appeared before a Florence County Magistrate and were released on $5,000 personal recognizance bonds.

The identity of the victim has not been released by the sheriff’s office.