UPDATE: Charges brought to three Michigan frat boys

Submitted by yossarians tree on

This topic is still white-hot and still relevant to many people on this blog. If you are tired of hearing about it, don't click.

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2015/03/20/um-sigm…

Charges have now been brought: Legal Blues, have at it because I am still confused. My fear is that these little assholes, being little assholes, are going to lawyer the hell up (probably getting repped by their own fathers in many cases) and drag this crap out, with the university and its reputation along for the long ride. If none of the individuals are going to come forward and accept responsibility, I wish the frat would just pony up the cash and make this thing go away.

MGoSteelers

March 21st, 2015 at 12:34 PM ^

 

My fear is that these little assholes, being little assholes, are going to lawyer the hell up (probably getting repped by their own fathers in many cases) and drag this crap out, with the university and its reputation along for the long ride.

This is a ridiculous assumption. Is having a lawyer father a prerequisite to being in a fraternity? Given the large possibility that their fathers are not lawyers, are you blaming them for hiring one?  I don't understand.

yossarians tree

March 21st, 2015 at 12:48 PM ^

First of all, the other thread was before charges. Thus the word UPDATE.

And I do assume that several kids in this frat have lawyers for fathers. Yes, I do. And this does not make their fathers bad people. But the lack of accountability that these criminals are displaying (and there are people who did this, and there are people who know who did this) is decidedly the behavior of people who have retreated to the safety of legal protection and are likely planning to drag this process through litigation and try to save their own asses. This brings dirt on ALL of the members of this band of shitheads and by association all of us who are tied to the university for as long as they drag it out. They should pay the resort for damages, but it does not appear that they intend to. Gutless behavior.

dupont circle

March 22nd, 2015 at 2:30 PM ^

Between the damage at Treetops: fraternity Sigma Alpha Mu & sorority Sigma Delta Tau.

And Boyne damage, which was: Chi Psi and Pi Kappa Alpha fraternities, and the Delta Gamma and Alpha Phi sororities.

You're talking six very prominent houses. This entire situation casts the University and more specifically University Greek culture in a very bad light.

ndscott50

March 21st, 2015 at 1:06 PM ^

Don't hire a lawyer and throw yourself on the mercy of the court? I'm sure the local prosecutor (an elected official in a high profile case) will respect that and go easy on you. Of course that felony conviction on your record won't cause you any problems with future employers once you explain how you did the right thing and did not hide behind a lawyer.

ndscott50

March 21st, 2015 at 12:57 PM ^

Unless the prosecutor wants to get carried away and push for a felony conviction. Me guess is they will take any deal that avoids a felony on their record. Cooperate, take a big fine, lots of community service maybe a few weekends in jail. That would be a fair punishment and my guess is such a deal will be worked out relatively quickly.

Now if the prosecutor insist on a felony conviction then you will see a fight. That seems like a waste of resources and prosecutorial grandstanding however. A relatively painful plea deal to a misdemeanor seems most likely. Form the kids perspective even spending the summer in Jail should be preferable to a felony.

kb

March 21st, 2015 at 1:01 PM ^

file charges against a few people, offer them lesser charges if they identify the people who caused the damage, get actual perpetrators. Have to go this way because no one is fessing up as responsible.

OccaM

March 21st, 2015 at 1:02 PM ^

Yeah damn those people who get representation with lawyers! There's already a thread right below. We don't need your classism and stupidity on top of it. 

Jeff09

March 21st, 2015 at 1:20 PM ^

I think it's kind of ridiculous to talk about prosecuting the kids to the fullest extent of the law out of one side of your mouth and then criticize them for hiring a lawyer to defend against the charges on the other side. It's one thing to take responsibility and be punished for your crime, and it's another to try and, like, not let it entirely ruin your entire life/future/etc. If I were in their position I'd have to imagine I'd definitely hire a lawyer.

Brandywine

March 21st, 2015 at 7:29 PM ^

The level of classism and bitter attitudes towards greek life on this board is obscene. No one is condoning what these kids did but the innuendo about "daddy's little boys/girls" is insulting. Everyone has right to prevent something from ruining their life/future and you would do the same.

Further, quit whining and get off your soapbox about the University's image. This is less than 1/10000th the controvorsy you're making it out to be nationwide and compared to actual discussion-worthy events like the Oklahoma video, UVA lacrosse assault and Duke scandal. No one is dumb enough (I guess there's at least one) to meaningfully implicate the rest of the University to this story.

In short, buzz off.