By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
Seven Bowling Green State University students charged in relation to a fraternity initiation that allegedly resulted in the death of 20-year-old Stone Foltz all pleaded not guilty today (May 19) on a variety of felony and misdemeanor charges in Common Pleas Court.
The seven, members or inactive members of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, were arraigned before Judge Joel Kuhlman.
Facing the most serious charges is Jacob Krinn, 20, of Delaware. He is charged with manslaughter, reckless homicide, felonious assault, and involuntary manslaughter, all felonies . If convicted, he could be sentenced to close to 20 years in prison.
He also pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor charges of hazing, failure to comply with underage alcohol laws, and obstructing official business.
Troy Henricksen, 23, of Grove City, was arraigned on three felony charges – involuntary manslaughter, reckless homicide, and tampering with evidence. He could be sentenced to more than 10 years in prison. He and the other defendants are charged with the misdemeanors of hazing, and failure to comply with underage alcohol laws. They face multiple counts of each because they relate as well to the other new members, beside Foltz, who were at the initiation.
Also arraigned and pleading not guilty to all charges were:
- Daylen Dunson, 20, of Cleveland, the president of the Delta Beta Chapter at BGSU, on charges of felony involuntary manslaughter, tampering with evidence, and obstructing justice, as well as a misdemeanor count of obstructing official business.
- Canyon Caldwell, 21, of Dublin, on charges of felony involuntary manslaughter, and tampering with evidence as well as misdemeanor obstructing official business. (He and his attorney attended via video call.)
- Niall Sweeney, 21, of Erie, Pennsylvania on charges of felony involuntary manslaughter and obstructing official business.
- Jarrett Prizel, 19, of Olean, New York on charges of third degree felony involuntary manslaughter.
- Aaron Lehane, 21, of Loveland, on felony charges of tampering with evidence and obstructing official business.
All were released on their personal recognizance on the conditions that: they are not in contact with the other defendants; they are not in contact with any of the victims, all the new fraternity members, or their families; they stay off the BGSU campus; they refrain from drinking alcohol. They will all have to wear alcohol monitors; and they are forbidden from using social media, including posting photos and videos.
Also, Dobson indicated that the restriction from going on campus would not apply if they had to attend disciplinary hearings.
They have also left it to Lehane and Sweeney to figure out how to not maintain contact given they currently live in the same house, the scene of the initiation.
Separate pretrial dates were set for each defendant.
Foltz died March 7, three days after being dropped off at his off-campus residence, where he was found unconscious by his roommates. It is alleged that he was coerced into drinking an entire fifth of bourbon as part of the initiation.
The Lucas County coroner ruled the cause of his death as fatal alcohol intoxication from hazing. Foltz had a blood-alcohol content of .35, more than four times the legal limit.
The seven defendants also are part of a wrongful death civil suit filed in Franklin County by the estate of Stone Foltz. The international fraternity and the local chapter are also defendants in that suit as well as other named and unnamed members of the fraternity.
They also face disciplinary charges at BGSU.
