It's felony hazing at PBS at SIU-E

[hoosier]

------------------------------------------------------------------------Posted on Fri, May. 31, 2002
Frat members face felony hazing charge
By BRIAN BRUEGGEMANN
Belleville (Ill.) News-Democrat


EDWARDSVILLE -- Five members of a fraternity at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville are facing felony charges of hazing for allegedly paddling a recruit to the point that he had to be hospitalized for four days.

Phi Beta Sigma fraternity members paddled the victim, Prentice Motley, in March and April, according to indictments issued Thursday by a Madison County grand jury.

Chief Richard Harrison of the SIUE Police Department said a person trying to join the fraternity with Motley had to take Motley to a hospital after the recruits, called pledges, were paddled one day in a wooded area on campus. Motley suffered internal bleeding.

``The victim was in intensive care for two days, but there were no permanent injuries,'' Harrison said. ``It was an injury to the kidney area. He was passing blood.''

Assistant State's Attorney Amy Garrett said the defendants paddled Motley with a wooden paddle ``made for paddling.''

``The indictment alleges the paddling took place in March and April. It ultimately required medical attention as the result of one incident,'' Garrett said.

Charged with felony hazing for allegedly causing great bodily harm to Motley are Deanthony A. Moore, 22; Richard Harris, 19; Frederick J. Spencer, 19; Malike A. Perkins, 22; and Doue Carter, 21.

The sentence for felony hazing ranges from probation to three years in prison.

All five of the defendants also were charged with misdemeanor hazing for allegedly paddling Jacob Jenkins and Adedamola Oshin, two other pledges.

Those defendants, except Moore, also face felony charges of perjury for allegedly lying to the grand jury on May 17. Felony perjury carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

Another defendant, 21-year-old Christopher L. Conner, faces two misdemeanor hazing charges for allegedly paddling Jenkins and Oshin.

The grand jury charged Oshin with felony perjury for allegedly lying to the grand jury.

Circuit Judge Ann Callis set bail for Moore, Harris, Spencer and Carter at $80,000 apiece. She set Oshin's bail at $30,000 and Moore's and Conner's bail at $10,000 each.

Representatives of Phi Beta Sigma could not be reached for comment Thursday. Dean of Students Randy Rock said the fraternity is ``a recognized organization; that does not mean they're active at this point.'' He would not elaborate.

The university issued the following statement:

``We support the actions and decisions of the grand jury in bringing these indictments. The university, both in its policies and in its mission, stands firmly against any actions that endanger the welfare of students. We are committed to maintaining a safe campus for students, faculty, staff and visitors. Those who violate these policies, who place others in peril, who commit felonies, must be held accountable, both by the university and in a court of law.