KVNU’s For The People

Alleged USU hazers make first court appearance – Salt Lake Tribune.

A dozen Utah State University students appeared in court Monday to enter not-guilty pleas to misdemeanor charges that they participated in an alleged hazing that contributed to the death of a freshman fraternity pledge in November.

An attorney for Cody Littlewood, the commander of the Sigma Nu fraternity, contends Littlewood was not present at the hazing, discouraged alcohol use at Sigma Nu initiations, and took good care of 18-year-old pledge Michael Starks when he returned intoxicated.

“Cody Littlewood gave Michael Starks excellent care,” said lawyer Clayton Simms “It’s a tragedy. They liked Michael. They enjoyed his company. It’s double whammy to lose a friend and to be blamed for his demise.”

Cache County prosecutors have charged Littlewood, a 20-year-old junior majoring in journalism, three Sigma Nu brothers, and eight underage members of Chi Omega sorority with class A misdemeanors that carry a maximum jail term of one year. They have pretrial hearings set for Jan. 26. The USU chapters of their organizations are charged with felony hazing in connection with Starks’ Nov. 21 death from alcohol poisoning.

Before the incident, Littlewood and other Sigma Nu members identified Starks as their top pledge, whose reward was to be “captured” by Chi Omega women next door, according to charges. The women took Starks to a Logan home, where they painted him and gave him a liter of vodka, most of which he drank before his fellow pledges “rescued” him.

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