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Brittany Packham could get six months in jail for supplying alcohol to minor
By Matthew K. Jensen
Published:
Tuesday, June 9, 2009 2:37 AM CDT
A defendant in the ongoing Michael Starks hazing case pleaded guilty to supplying alcohol to a minor in 1st District Court on Monday afternoon.
Brittany Packham, 20, is one of five Utah State University students to admit wrongdoing after the Cache County Attorney’s Office brought suit against 12 students and the Sigma Nu and Chi Omega fraternities following the death of Michael Starks.
Starks, an 18-year-old USU student from Salt Lake City, died Nov. 21, 2008, after drinking vodka at an off-campus home. He was taking part in a Sigma Nu fraternity membership initiation, during which he was provided alcohol by members of the Chi Omega Sorority, an official report states.
Prosecutor Barbara Lachmar agreed to reduce the alcohol supplying charge to a class-B misdemeanor and dismissed a hazing charge against Packham.
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Judge Thomas Willmore told Packham the maximum penalty for the crime to which she pleaded guilty is six months in jail and a fine of $1,000. He requested a pre-sentence report to be completed before he passes sentence on July 20.
Meanwhile, four of the original 12 cases are ongoing, three have been dismissed and two cases have already been resolved through sentencing.
Former Chi Omega Sorority member Whitney K. Miller was also charged with supplying alcohol to a minor. During her hearing, Miller admitted to supplying vodka to at least one minor.
In court Monday, Packham admitted to holding up an alcoholic drink to the lips of one the participants involved. An officials court document states Starks and another fraternity pledge were “captured†during a mock kidnapping that was executed by members of the Chi Omega Sorority. The document adds that Starks and another pledge were “bound with duct tape†during the ordeal.
Packham declined discussing the case with the media.
Miller will be sentenced next Monday.
Christopher A. Ammon also pleaded no contest to supplying alcohol to a minor. He’s scheduled for sentencing July 6.