Theta Chi pleaded guilty last week to one charge of furnishing alcohol to a minor as part of a plea bargain with the city and agreed to have every fraternity member complete an alcohol diversion program, said Dan Barkovic, the Eugene city prosecutor.
The fraternity originally pleaded not guilty to the charges stemming from an incident in December when two women went to the hospital for alcohol poisoning after attending a party at the fraternity’s house on East 19th Avenue and Potter Street.
“It’s a bit unusual to charge an entity other than an individual,” Barkovic said. “But by ordinance and statute, organizations can be charged with an offense.”
The terms of the agreement include completing the diversion program within six months, paying a $300 fine and not committing any similar violations within that same six-month period, Barkovic said.
If the terms are met, the case will be closed, Barkovic said, but if the fraternity receives a violation during that time, its guilty plea will be used by the court for sentencing.
Theta Chi President Bryan Caplan had no comment when reached by the Emerald on Monday.
Theta Chi fraternity’s plea bargain sends members to diversion
Daily Emerald
May 29, 2006
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