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Daily Camera, The (Boulder, CO) October 14, 2004 DA considers hazing charges in Bailey case Author: Christine Reid, Camera Staff Writer Section: News Page: A1 Article Text: Misdemeanor hazing charges are being considered in the alcohol-poisoning death of a University of Colorado fraternity pledge, Boulder County District Attorney Mary Keenan said Wednesday. It is only the second time her office has looked into charges under a 1999 state law against hazing, and none were filed in the previous case, which also involved the CU Greek system. After investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of CU freshman Lynn Gordon "Gordie" Bailey Jr. for nearly a month, Boulder police detectives briefed prosecutors on the case Wednesday. It could take up to a week to determine if any charges, including providing alcohol to minors, will be filed, Keenan said. "We need time to review the reports," she said. Bailey, 18, was found dead on the library floor of the Chi Psi fraternity house Sept. 17. He had participated in a ritual the night before in a mountain field, where pledges were given wine and whiskey and told "no one was leaving until the whiskey was gone," investigators said in a police affidavit. The local lawmaker who pushed for the anti-hazing law for three years would not s! ay whether he thought hazing charges were appropriate in this case, but he said he`s concerned such activities still occur despite the legislation. "I wish I had the answers how to get across to individuals that membership in an organization is never worth jeopardizing your life," said Sen. Terry Phillips, D-Louisville. Phillips said it seems like prosecutors are reluctant to file hazing charges, and he was upset with the decision not to use the law in the previous Boulder County case, in 2001. In that case, two newly inducted Kappa Alpha Theta sorority members were served liquor-filled baby bottles during a sorority event and ended up in the emergency room for alcohol poisoning. Authorities at the time said the event didn`t meet the statutory requirements to file hazing charges because the teens who got sick were members of the sorority -- not pledges undergoing initiation. Two sorority members were ticketed for providing alcoho! l to minors and received a one-year deferred sentence. The ha zing law, which carries a maximum penalty of a $750 fine and six months in jail, has been used to file charges eight times statewide, according to state judicial records. Six of those were juvenile cases, so no other information was available. The remaining two were filed in Jefferson and Saguache counties in 2000 and 2001, respectively. Contact Camera Staff Writer Christine Reid at (303) 473-1355 or reidc@dailycamera.com. Caption: Mug shot, Bailey All content copyright (c) 2004 Daily Camera and may not be republished without permission. Record Number: 105BB7C366C355C4 |