Criminal Hazing Charges Dropped For 17 Radford Students

VIENNA, VA—Hazing charges were dropped for 17 members of a banished Radford University fraternity.

The charges relate to a Sept. 14, 2017hazing 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 woke up to find 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.

According to WDBJ7, all charges were dropped against a Vienna man. Hazing charges were also dropped for Kyle Dennis Best, 20, of Haymarket, Christopher Blair Gepford, 22, of Centreville, Caleb Lorenzo Howard, 19, of Manassas, Joshua Ko, 19, of Fairfax, Matthew Dylan Thomas, 21, of Haymarket, Matthew Stuart Wedel, 20, of Manassas, and Clayton Marshall O’Neill, 21, of Herndon. Best, Gepford, Howard, Ko, Thomas, Wedel, and O'Neill were found guilty of purchasing alcohol for a minor.

WDBJ later reported the hazing charges were dropped for the remaining defendants, but they were found guilty on other charges:

• Carlos Escobar, 23, of Alexandria
• Justin Patrick Hooper, 20, of Ashburn
• Jason Nicholas Wheeler, 21, of Fairfax Station
• Samuel Kent Harris, 22, of Gainesville
• Trever Vaughn Stanford, 22, of Hamilton
• Marcel Terrence Gough, 20, of Herndon
• Hunter David Hanes, 19, of Roanoke
• Jacob A. Tucker, 21, of Stafford