FAMU bandmates' charges upgraded in hazing death

Florida A&M Marching 100 Drum Major Robert Champion during a performance at halftime of the game against Howard University at Bragg Memorial Stadium on Oct. 8, 2011 in Tallahassee, Florida. Champion became ill and died after a game on November 19, 2011. / AP Photo/Don Juan Moore

ORLANDO, Fla. Twelve former Florida A&M University band members were charged Monday with manslaughter in the 2011 hazing death of a drum major.

Ten of the band members had been charged last May with third-degree felony hazing for the death of 26-year-old Robert Champion, but the state attorney's office said they are adding the charge of manslaughter for each defendant. They also have charged two additional defendants with manslaughter, though they have yet to be arrested.

The second-degree manslaughter charge, which was announced during a status hearing Monday afternoon, carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison.

• Complete coverage of FAMU investigation on Crimesider
• FAMU hazing death case of Robert Champion turned over to prosecutors
• 13 charged in hazing death of FAMU band member Robert Champion

Champion died in Orlando in November 2011 after he collapsed following what prosecutors say was a savage beating during a hazing ritual. It happened on a bus parked in a hotel parking lot after Florida A&M played Bethune-Cookman in their annual rivalry football game.

Authorities said Champion had bruises on his chest, arms, shoulder and back and died of internal bleeding. Witnesses told emergency dispatchers that the drum major was vomiting before he was found unresponsive aboard the bus.

Prosecutors had originally filed felony hazing charges because the charges only required that they prove the defendants took part in a hazing that resulted in death. It didn't require them to prove who struck the fatal blows.

CBS News correspondent Mark Strassman reports that Champion's parents have long believed everyone on the bus should be prosecuted.

"They've murdered my son, so they should be held accountable, and at the same time this is the opportunity to set the state and set an example," Pam Champion told CBS News last April.

Two former band members whose cases were resolved last year weren't among those charged Monday. Brian Jones and Ryan Dean, have already been sentenced after pleading no-contest to third-degree felony hazing last year. Both initially pleaded not guilty.

Jones was sentenced last October to six months of community control, which strictly limits his freedom with measures including frequent check-ins with probation officials. He also was given two years of probation and required to perform 200 hours of community service.

Dean was sentenced the following month and received four years of probation and 200 hours of community service.

Judge Marc Lubet conferenced with all the attorneys involved before Monday's hearing and said in court that it was a consensus that because of a witness list that includes more than 100 people, a June trial date was unlikely.

He has set another status hearing in the case for August.

[bradkt1]

One life tragically ended...a family devastated and a dozen more lives and families (including the two who pleaded out earlier last year) profoundedly adversely affected...

...all because some arrogant knuckleheads got carried away and no adults were minding the store. Everyone "went along to get along." I have seen this so many times before. Hazing has been a long tradition with the FAMU band and while the perpetrators who beat Mr. Champion fatally are directly responsible, the ones who bear equal responsibility are the adults who were supposed to be leading by example and supervising the goings on with the band members.

Yes...the manslaughter charges are appropriate because the victim was beaten to death, even though no one ever intended to hurt or kill him.

They did, though.

[QueenS101]

What the hell do you mean they didn't intend to hurt him?? Maybe they didn't mean to kill him, but they damn sure were trying to hurt him. You don't brutally beat someone with the intentions of them just coming out of it comepletely okay like nothing ever happened! That's not possible! And on top of that there was one of him vs. 12 others! He had absolutely no chance in the world at defending himself. Quite frankly I don't think the charges are a harsh enough punishment for the crime committed. That man was beaten to death so I know he really suffered before he died. None of the parties involved should be charged with anything less than second degree murder. Getting involved in any kind of group/organization that does this hazing crap isn't worth the abuse, and it damn sure isn't worth your life! So to anyone who might be reading this, and can relate my advice to you is to turn around and run far away!

[rwsmith29456]

Beating someone to death brings a charge of manslaughter? Sounds like murder to me. And I don't understand why a 26 year old college man in a position of leadership was 'hazed' in the first place. I mean, was this his first year?? I think 'hazing' is far too weak of a term in this case.

[Xthes]

This is beyond tragic; Robert Champion died because he was passionate about what he did and what he believed in. The little f%$#^&s who did it should feel the full weight of the legal system and recceive the maximum sentence allowable.

Robert Champion's family will never share another Thanksgiving with him - why should these murderes share another Thanksgiving with their families.

And the losers who stood by and watched should be charged with criminal negligence.

[Henri_Rochard]

The people on the bus beat Mr. Champion to death and it sounds like they're getting off lightly.

No one on the bus thought to dial 911 or anything. A very sad statement.