OT: UM fraternity members to face charges this afternoon in ski resort incident

Submitted by sadeto on

From mlive.com: 

LINK

The sheriff isn't saying yet but some are indicating four fraternity members will be charged. I suppose once they are charged and enter plea negotiations it is possible the code of silence may be broken and others may be identified. Glad to see that some individuals at least will be forced to face the legal consequences for such outrageous behavior. 

 

MGoBoard

bluesparkhitsy…

March 20th, 2015 at 5:20 PM ^

No one is suggesting a punishment that ruins these kids' lives. But the conduct involved was of the scope for which criminal liability is appropriate, and it is difficult to fathom that this amount of damage could have resulted without a culpable state of mind. At any rate, we're talking about charges here, and these defendants would have the opportunity to defend themselves against those charges.

The fact that the business may have been in bankruptcy is utterly irrelevant.

Joined: 10/16/2010

MGoPoints: 2442

Sports

March 21st, 2015 at 1:31 PM ^

By that logic, the whole justice system is flawed. You asserting that they won't receive a fair trial is insane. They will. If your logic is that they won't be tried fairly because it'll be in a northern Michigan court, the same could be said of anywhere. Should people from New York never be tried for crimes they may commit in Pennsylvania or New Jersey?

Joined: 04/23/2014

MGoPoints: 5469

imdwalrus

March 20th, 2015 at 5:36 PM ^

The same material as yesterday, even after it was explained to you yesterday the bankrupt part is completely irrelevant? We need a better class of trolls here. Or at least ones who can manage better than a broken record spiel.

Joined: 10/31/2009

MGoPoints: 797

PeterKlima

March 20th, 2015 at 5:44 PM ^

explained to me? what?? i am talking about the law son. it is relevant. legally and realisticlly. i am not guessing at that. jusy because someone here disagrees with the law, it doesnt mean they "explained" something.

Joined: 08/24/2008

MGoPoints: -313

justingoblue

March 20th, 2015 at 5:50 PM ^

Can you please explain, citing relevant law or precedent, how (specifically) vandalism or liability laws change based on a business filing papers in bankruptcy court?

Joined: 11/16/2010

MGoPoints: 29741

Nardudeski

March 20th, 2015 at 11:49 PM ^

If you can't draw a link between prosecuting members of a fraternity and taking a dump on the U.S. flag then you have no business defending a fraternity member. 

Joined: 11/26/2011

MGoPoints: 633

imdwalrus

March 20th, 2015 at 5:57 PM ^

jusy because someone here disagrees with the law, it doesnt mean they "explained" something. Sweet irony... What, pray tell, makes your interpretation somehow more valid or correct than the prosecutors filing the charges? Because given the choice between believing the official investigators or a guy on a message board with a clear agenda...

Joined: 10/31/2009

MGoPoints: 797

PeterKlima

March 20th, 2015 at 8:03 PM ^

has no bearing on the relevancy of a defense. plus, in a normal situation it also affects prosecutorial discretion. also relevant to sentencing. also relevant to civil liability damages. but you think filing charges means that the prpsecutors think nothing aside from their allegations are relevant to civil or crimjnal liability?

Joined: 08/24/2008

MGoPoints: -313

Esterhaus

March 20th, 2015 at 6:46 PM ^

 

The property had enjoyed substantial valuation that was diminished by actions of some fraternity members. Those members causing the damage may have acted with a culpable mindset. If so, they would have committed one or more civil infractions (quasi-crimes) or crimes (misdemeanors or felonies) depending on applicable law. It does not matter in the determination of infractions or crimes whether the frat and its members subsequently restore the property to status quo ante.

Wrongful actions will have been committed with criminal mindset and that's it until sentencing, when restitution may be considered - assuming the criminal cases are prosecuted. The fact bankruptcy may have been filed in connection with the affected property, given the nature of the property damaged, won't change crimes to civil infractions.

If charged fully, tried and found guilty, those responsible for the damage will be convicted of misdemeanors or felonies. In any civil action, they'll be on the hook for restoring the property and compensating the owners and creditors to make them whole again.

The bankruptcy isn't material to culpability.

Joined: 03/16/2015

MGoPoints: 7733

dupont circle

March 20th, 2015 at 8:47 PM ^

Were the sorority girls they were mixing with sitting in rocking chairs and knitting all weekend?

Everyone involved in this is a scumbag. Out of state rich brats that have never made a dollar in their life thought it was cute to destroy Michigan plebs' (that's the lexicon they use to describe SoM residents) property. Dad has bailed them out their entire life, why wouldn't he pay to repair some crappy ski lodge in northern Michigan!

Expel these losers. The sorority girls too.

Joined: 02/19/2015

MGoPoints: -127

UMChick77

March 21st, 2015 at 5:54 AM ^

Some of you need to wake up and realize that you're no longer in college and stop living vicariously through the lives of these frat boys. Some of the defending of these people is utterly ridiculous. As a greek alumn myself, if a chapter of my sorority was involved in something like this, I wouldn't be finding ways to defend them. I would be ashamed. They are fucking adults and made a bad choice. They SHOULD BE prosecuted. If that "ruins their lives" then tough shit. No one held a gun to their heads.

Joined: 12/16/2014

MGoPoints: 7699