FELONY BATTERY STEMMING FROM A HAZING INCIDENT!
Seven Southern University band members were officially charged Wednesday with felony battery by the East Baton Rouge Parish district attorney following an alleged hazing incident from November.
Lagarian Bridgewater, Carlo-Andres Carter, Jeremy Dixon, Aurey Harris, Harvey Harrison, Clifton Taylor and Joseph Webb each face second-degree battery charges.
Authorities are calling it a "hazing" incident that left two band members seriously injured.
District Attorney Hillar Moore has been in contact with the victims and with the seven accused band members' attorneys.
Moore says they have come to an agreement to plead no contest or guilty. "They all now have lawyers and we discussed it with them," he said.
"This case would have taken years to try because of the number of the defendants, where they are from, some gave statements other did not, would have to sever them out, so I think this was a reasonable resolution to the facts and how the victims wanted it disposed of."
A spokesman with the university says at this time, Southern has no comment on the plea bargain.
Despite rumors suggesting the contrary, the band is still in existence and will be on schedule for next year's season.
Although I'm Not an SU student. I Know All These Guy's Due to Common Marching band Connections both Online and Offline. and These guys are not bad people. they just all got caught up in the moment of what they were doing without thinking of the consequences.
ReplyDeleteThey all went through the same thing their first year. It's just that THEY were Caught. which looks bad on SU's band. but it doesn't tarnish their reputation.
In the Band World. we all adhere to the general and oh so common. Yet UNWRITTEN rules of band.
It's Not a Cakewalk. but at the same time the line has to be drawn where Lives are threatened.
The SU Marching Band Performed A Recent Stop The Violence Rally with only Three members of its mellophone (French Horn) Section.
The Rally was due to an Increased Level of Violent Acts among students Occurring with Students Both on and off campus.
Aside from the Hazing Situation. SU's Drum Major was Shot and Paralyzed this spring. it was the primary reason for the Rally itself. The shooting had nothing to do with the school itself. It was just an Unfortunate situation while the brother was doing his Job.
They All Plead Guilty to Lighten those Charges. I honestly would rather see them All Free. because even the guys who were the victims don't want to see these guys go out in that fashion.
I'd have to say the reputation of the whole school is tarnished after an event like this- and "getting caught up in the moment" is a sterile way to describe a felony.
ReplyDeleteAlso there is no need to capitalize "Common Marching band connection." There are no rules of band either.
One more thing- having your mug shot taken is not the time to put on your "bad mofo face."