Former Penn State Fraternity Brother Enters First Guilty Plea In Timothy Piazza's Death

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BELLEFONTE, Pa. (CBS/AP) — A former Penn State University fraternity brother entered the first guilty plea in the death of a pledge who was fatally injured after a night of heavy drinking and hazing.

The Centre Daily Times reports 21-year-old Ryan Burke pleaded guilty Wednesday to all nine remaining charges he faced, including four misdemeanor counts of hazing.

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Twenty-five other defendants face charges in the death of Timothy Piazza. The 19-year-old pledge drank a dangerous amount of alcohol and suffered fatal injuries in a series of falls during a party last year. Prosecutors say fraternity members did little or nothing to help him.

A forensic pathologist testified in March that Piazza might have been able to survive his injuries if fraternity members called for help sooner.

Burke was accused of giving Piazza a bottle of vodka at the party. He'll be sentenced July 31.

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Defense attorney Philip Masorti says Burke is "anxious to make amends."

(© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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