LOGAN, Utah, July 22 (UPI) -- No one has yet been convicted of hazing in the death of a Utah State University fraternity pledge, though four students have been found guilty of other charges.
Four remaining defendants have moved to have hazing charges dismissed, The Salt Lake Tribune reported Tuesday.
Michael Starks, 18, a pledge at Sigma Nu, was voted to be captured by women from the Chi Omega sorority last fall. While he was being held at a private home in Logan, he was given vodka and died hours later at the Sigma Nu house.
Twelve people were originally charged. Four have pleaded guilty to supplying a minor with alcohol or obstruction of justice, and charges have already been dismissed against three. One student pleaded guilty to hazing in a deal that allows the charge to be dismissed once she completes probation.
The chief criminal prosecutor in Cache County, Tony Baird, sees the case as a success.
"Our goal has been to bring focus on the issue of underage binge drinking and the prosecution has been successful in doing that," he said.
"We successfully prosecuted the person who had bought the bottle, who brought the bottle, who had the bottle and then threw the bottle away."
