Marching 100 Hazing Charges Upgraded to Manslaughter
LIVE: FAMU Hazing Defendants Appear in Court
By: Garin Flowers
Prosecutors in Orange County, FL have decided to charge twelve former band members with charges of manslaughter. That's a second degree felony, and students and staff at FAMU are reacting to this news.
It's been more than a year since the hazing death of Marching 100 drum major Robert Champion.
Former band members arrested in the incident, appeared in court Monday afternoon. They received news that their charges were upgraded.
In May, ten band members were charged with hazing causing death. That's punishable by up to five years. But, now their charges have been upgraded to manslaughter, a second degree felony...punishable by up to 15 years behind bars.
Prosecutors have also charged two additional defendants with manslaughter, making it twelve people.
"You gone live and learn on that one, it was a real big shock," said Willie Bradwell, FAMU Student.
Robert Champion died November of 2011 after a hazing ritual on the band bus. This was in Orlando during the weekend of the FAMU vs. Bethune Cookman rivalry football game.
"In regards to student life it's been very stagnant, very dormant right now because you know regardless of what the details of the case is, a man lost his life, a man lost his life and we have to ensure that," Anthony Siders, FAMU Student Body President, said.
By Julie Montanaro March 4, 2013 4:45 p.m.
Defense attorney Bill Sharpe says he got an email from the state attorney's office this afternoon notifying him that charges against his client, Rikki Wills, would be upgraded to manslaughter.
We are trying to reach a spokeswoman in the State Attorney's Office in Orlando for more information.
Sharpe says he is still in "trial mode" and either way Wills wants a jury of his peers to decide if he committed a crime.
Tallahassee, FL - Charges against the remaining defendants in the hazing death of drum major Robert Champion have been upgraded to manslaughter, according to one of the defense attorneys on the case.
A court hearing is underway in Orlando right now.
Ten band members are still facing charges in connection with Champion's death.
They were initially charged with hazing causing death which is a third degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison.
Now, charges have been upgraded to manslaughter which is a second degree felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
Two other band members, Ryan Dean and Bryan Jones, entered no contest pleas last year and were sentenced to probation and community service.
Replies
Thanks for posting.....
This is terrible
Jones and Dean were smart by pleading to the felony hazing charges that all twelve people were originally charged with. They had someone with a brain guiding them or they were reading my posts. Unfortunately for the other original ten this is only going to get worse.
We have three groups here...
(1) FAMU, (2) Champion clan, and (3) the charged.
Two of these groups will collaborate against one group.
And some were talking about getting a jury of their peers... I'll post the facts so I can show that I'm not blowing air out of my
http://www.orangecountyfl.net/Portals/0/resource%20library/planning...
Marching 100 Hazing Charges Upgraded to Manslaughter
By: Garin Flowers
Prosecutors in Orange County, FL have decided to charge twelve former band members with charges of manslaughter. That's a second degree felony, and students and staff at FAMU are reacting to this news.
It's been more than a year since the hazing death of Marching 100 drum major Robert Champion.
Former band members arrested in the incident, appeared in court Monday afternoon. They received news that their charges were upgraded.
In May, ten band members were charged with hazing causing death. That's punishable by up to five years. But, now their charges have been upgraded to manslaughter, a second degree felony...punishable by up to 15 years behind bars.
Prosecutors have also charged two additional defendants with manslaughter, making it twelve people.
"You gone live and learn on that one, it was a real big shock," said Willie Bradwell, FAMU Student.
Robert Champion died November of 2011 after a hazing ritual on the band bus. This was in Orlando during the weekend of the FAMU vs. Bethune Cookman rivalry football game.
"In regards to student life it's been very stagnant, very dormant right now because you know regardless of what the details of the case is, a man lost his life, a man lost his life and we have to ensure that," Anthony Siders, FAMU Student Body President, said.
By Julie Montanaro March 4, 2013 4:45 p.m.
Defense attorney Bill Sharpe says he got an email from the state attorney's office this afternoon notifying him that charges against his client, Rikki Wills, would be upgraded to manslaughter.
We are trying to reach a spokeswoman in the State Attorney's Office in Orlando for more information.
Sharpe says he is still in "trial mode" and either way Wills wants a jury of his peers to decide if he committed a crime.