Aaron Lehane, 21, one of the members Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, charged in relation to the hazing death of Stone Foltz, has agreed to a plea deal.
Wood County Prosecutor Paul Dobson issued a press release announcing that Lehane, of Loveland, has agreed to plead guilty to one count of obstructing justice and misdemeanor of the first degree. This was an amended charge from tampering with evidence, a felony of the third degree. Lehane additionally pled to a charge of obstructing official business, a second degree misdemeanor; eight counts of hazing, fourth degree misdemeanors; one count of violating laws regarding underage consumption, a first degree misdemeanor.
He could face as much as 15 months jail.
Dobson said that the prosecution’s recommendation at sentencing will be determined by Lehane’s cooperation in the prosecution of his co-defendants.
[READ RELATED STORY: Students charged in BGSU hazing case plead not guilty to all charges at arraignment]
Foltz, who was pledging to the fraternity, was allegedly coerced into drinking a full bottle of whiskey during a Big/Little event on March 4, and then dropped off at his off-campus residence where he was found unconscious by his roommates.
He was first transported to Wood County Hospital and then transferred to Toledo Hospital. He died on March 7 after being on life support to facilitate the donation of his organs.
Lehane is the second of the eight co-defendants, who were all current or former members of Pi Kappa Alpha, to plead guilty.
Niall Sweeney, 21, of Erie, Pennsylvania, pled guilty to misdemeanor charges a month ago.
[READ RELATED STORY: Defendant in Foltz case pleads guilty to reduced charges]
