Prosecutors drop assault charges in Penn State hazing death
Pennsylvania prosecutors are dropping all assault charges against members of a now-closed Penn State fraternity in the hazing death of 19-year-old pledge Tim Piazza.
This Oct. 31, 2014, photo shows Timothy Piazza, (center), with his parents Evelyn and James Piazza, during Hunterdon Central Regional High School football's 'Senior Night' at the high school's stadium in Flemington, N.J. (Patrick Carns via AP)
The attorney general’s office announced Thursday that it will continue to pursue involuntary manslaughter charges against five former members of Beta Theta Pi in the February 2017 death of 19-year-old pledge Tim Piazza of Lebanon, New Jersey. But those don’t carry the lengthy prison sentences that some of the assault charges did.
The state is now handling the case on referral from a new county district attorney.
A judge had thrown out the most serious charges in September but the county prosecutor at the time refiled them, including eight felony counts of aggravated assault.
Prosecutors are still reviewing the case, which involves 26 defendants.
This story has been corrected to show five face involuntary manslaughter charges, not four.
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