15 Charged in Hazing Death of Wash. State Fraternity Pledge Allegedly Forced to Drink at Party

In a press release Wednesday, Tracy announced that 15 men were charged each with supplying liquor to minors. According to Tracy, furnishing liquor to minors is a gross misdemeanor that carries a maximum sentence of one year in jail and up to a $5,000 fine.

In a statement to theNew York Times, Martinez' family said the penalties were “insulting compared to the devastating consequences of their actions, which directly led to Sam’s death, and the loss we are living with for the rest of our lives.”

Accordingto Martinez' family,he and another pledge were made to drink a half-gallon of rum between them. After his death, Martinez' blood-alcohol content level was measured at nearly five times the legal limit.

His death was ruled accidental,NBC News reports.

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“While the charges may lead to some level of accountability, this is not justice. It does not bring us closure,” Martinez' family said in a statement Wednesday, theSeattle Timesreports. “We are deeply disappointed that no one will face a charge of hazing in this case.”

In July, Martinez' mother, Jolayne Houtz,wrote an op-edin theSeattle Timesurging colleges and universities to end the “toxic tradition” of hazing, writing, “The college fraternity system is long overdue for the kind of reckoning many other American institutions now face for enabling and perpetuating violence, injustice and destructive behavior.”

A spokesman for Washington State University could not be reached for comment Friday.

source: people.com