Students cited for minor consumption at an April 4 Lambda Chi party went before deputy county prosecutors on Tuesday.
According to NewsLink Indiana, students who were cited were given the option to plead guilty or not guilty, or they could choose to go through a pretrial diversion program.
Students who pleaded guilty were required to pay a $50 fine along with court fees and other charges, according to NewsLink Indiana. They were also placed on probation and forced to complete 20 hours of community service and attend alcohol classes.
Those who pleaded not guilty received a later court date.
Patrick Gring said he pleaded guilty in order to get the process over with. He said choosing to go through the diversion program would have forced him to endure a longer probation period and hire a lawyer.
"I didn't want to fuss with an attorney, and I didn't want to fuss with more court time," Gring said. "I just wanted to get it done as soon as possible."
Going through a pretrial diversion program removes the citation from a person's record.
Gring said the provisions of his probation period require that he stays in contact with a case manager for 180 days.
Gring said he chose to plead guilty because he knew he had been caught, but he said the penalties seemed stern to him.
"I feel that as a first time offense it's a lot," Gring said. "I feel like they were really trying to make an example of us. It was pretty harsh, I think."
Gring said after all the fines and the fees for alcohol classes, he will be forced to pay a little more than $600.
According to NewsLink, SGA Vice President Olufunmbi Elemo was in court Tuesday and entered a plea of not guilty.
Elemo, who has hired a lawyer, politely declined to comment Tuesday night.
Gring said most of the students who pleaded not guilty had hired lawyers, and they were released from the court before those who pleaded guilty.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
