Criminal Hazing Charges Filed Against Alexandria Man

ALEXANDRIA, VA—An Alexandria man is one of 17 members of a banished Radford University fraternity facing hazing charges, the City of Radford says.

The charges relate to a Sept. 14 hazing incident in which the victim says he received burns. The victim alleges he blacked out after being told to drink with other pledges and being "lightly whipped" by a stripper, The Roanoke Times reported. He claims to have woken up finding a symbol had been burned into his buttocks.

The Pi Kappa Phi fraternity had its charter revoked in June 2016, the university said in a statement. Fraternity members had also been arrested in May 2016 for similar hazing charges months before the charter was evoked.

"Alleged activity is not reflective of our university. RU will hold all found in violation of Standards of Student Conduct fully accountable." the university's statement on Twitter reads.

Carlos Escobar, 23, of Alexandria and the other suspects were charged with hazing that causes an injury, court records show. He also faces a charge of purchasing alcohol for an underage person.

Escobar and 14 other suspects are from Northern Virginia, while two others are from other parts of the state. The other suspects include:

• Joseph Andrew Sible, 22, of Arlington
• Justin Patrick Hooper, 20, of Ashburn
• Christopher Blair Gepford, 22, of Centreville
• Joshua Ko, 19, of Fairfax
• Jason Nicholas Wheeler, 21, of Fairfax Station
• Samuel Kent Harris, 22, of Gainesville
• Trever Vaughn Stanford, 22, of Hamilton
• Kyle Dennis Best, 20, of Haymarket
• Matthew Dylan Thomas, 21, of Haymarket
• Marcel Terrence Gough, 20, of Herndon
• Clayton Marshall O’Neill, 21, of Herndon
• Caleb Lorenzo Howard, 19, of Manassas
• Matthew Stuart Wedel, 20, of Manassas
• Hunter David Hanes, 19, of Roanoke
• Jacob A. Tucker, 21, of Stafford
• Luke Everett Andress, 19, of Vienna

The suspects had been released on bond but will appear in court Jan. 4.

Image via City of Radford