Judge Stacy Krueger aentenced Northern Arizona University a Delta Tau Delta fraternity leader this week to 60 days in jail. She determined that was an appropriate sentence for 18-year-old pledge Colin Martinez’s death from alcohol poisoning at an off-campus househazing event. on Jan. 31.
Judge Stacy Krueger also ordered Eslick to serve three years of probation.
Eslick could face an additional 305 days behind bars if he fails to meet probation conditions, which require him to deliver anti-hazing presentations and file court updates every six months.
From Hank Nuwer: Such a short sentence for a felony, a death. And he alone was punished when the whole chapter was involved. I have serious reservations about him speaking on hazing unless he speaks with a professional speaker educated on hazing. With all due respect to the court, I believe Krueger needed to be more aware of the significance of her way-too-lenient imposed sentence.
And there is no good reason why two other Delta Tau Delta members arrested after the death were never charged. Three students and members of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity, identified as Carter Eslick, Ryan Creech, and Riley Cass, all 20, were arrested on suspicion of hazing. They were the new member educator, vice president and treasurer of the chapter of the fraternity, per the press release. The president, however, was not held accountable at all with an arrest–contrary to several other hazing cases that ended up in court.
HN
From Jim Piazza, activist, father of Tim Piazza, and husband of activist and educator Ev Piazza: Law enforcement and judges are a serious part of the problem. If there are not significant consequences of engaging in bad behavior, it will continue. Schools need to have zero tolerance. Real zero tolerance. National leadership also needs to have zero tolerance and needs to send that message early and often. Unfortunately they want to protect their money flow. These organizations aren’t going away. Even if Greek life could be abolished (and it can’t), it will reform as something else. So, it’s better to have it governed and regulated than be underground. Too many leaders, alumni and even parents support or condone some level of bad behavior. It’s sad, disgusting and frustrating.
- An autopsy performed on Northern Arizona University student Colin Daniel Martinez after his Jan. 31 death revealed that he had a blood-alcohol level of 0.425%
