Tag Archives: Robert Champion

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Suspect in FAMU hazing case to enter guilty plea

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A third defendant charged with the hazing death of a Florida A&M drum major is pleading guilty in an Orlando courtroom.

Caleb Jackson‘s attorney says his client plans to plead guilty to manslaughter and felony hazing Tuesday in Orange County court.

Jackson had been held in Leon County Jail on a violation of probation since his arrest.

FAMU drum major Robert Champion died in Orlando in November 2011 after he collapsed following what prosecutors say was a savage beating during a hazing ritual.

A dozen former Florida A&M band members have been charged with manslaughter and felony hazing.

From: http://feeds.foxnews.com/~r/foxnews/national/~3/ppxO943R0i4/

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Not guilty pleas to new charges in FAMU hazing

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Several former Florida A&M band members are pleading not guilty to increased charges of manslaughter related to the death of drum major Robert Champion.

Defendants entered written pleas Friday to the more serious charges.

More than a dozen former FAMU band members were charged last year with hazing, a third-degree felony, in Champion’s death. But prosecutors upped the charges to manslaughter last month.

Two former band members last year pleaded no-contest to third-degree felony hazing, and a third is expected to enter a plea later this month.

Champion collapsed and died in Orlando in November 2011 after what prosecutors say was a savage beating during a hazing ritual. It happened on a bus parked in a hotel parking lot after FAMU played a rival in football.

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Lawyer: Man to plead guilty in Florida A&M hazing death

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A man charged in the hazing death of a Florida A&M drum major is going to plead guilty and cooperate with prosecutors, his attorney said Friday.

Caleb Jackson will plead guilty to felony hazing and manslaughter as soon as April, attorney Chuck Hobbs said at a hearing at the Orange County Courthouse.

Jackson currently is being held in the Leon County Jail for violating his probation.

Drum major Robert Champion died in November 2011 in Orlando after he collapsed following what prosecutors say was a savage beating during a hazing ritual. A dozen former Florida A&M band members have been charged with manslaughter and felony hazing.

“He has two hopes, the first being able to help the state with respect to understanding and getting a clearer picture of what happened the night Robert Champion died,” Hobbs said. “He is hopeful that he can play some small part in bringing closure to the family.”

Hobbs said no promises or guarantees have been made by prosecutors regarding Jackson’s cooperation.

“It would be his hope that by cooperating, such would bode well when it comes time for his sentencing,” Hobbs said.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox US News

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Lawyer: Man to plead guilty in FAMU hazing death

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A man charged in the hazing death of a Florida A&M drum major is going to plead guilty and cooperate with prosecutors, his attorney said Friday.

Caleb Jackson will plead guilty to felony hazing and manslaughter as soon as April, attorney Chuck Hobbs said at a hearing at the Orange County Courthouse.

Jackson currently is being held in the Leon County Jail for violating his probation.

Drum major Robert Champion died in November 2011 in Orlando after he collapsed following what prosecutors say was a savage beating during a hazing ritual. A dozen former Florida A&M band members have been charged with manslaughter and felony hazing.

“He has two hopes, the first being able to help the state with respect to understanding and getting a clearer picture of what happened the night Robert Champion died,” Hobbs said. “He is hopeful that he can play some small part in bringing closure to the family.”

Hobbs said no promises or guarantees have been made by prosecutors regarding Jackson’s cooperation.

“It would be his hope that by cooperating, such would bode well when it comes time for his sentencing,” Hobbs said.

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FAMU hazing suspect to enter plea, cooperate

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An attorney for one of the defendants in the hazing death of a Florida A&M drum major says his client is going to plead guilty and cooperate with prosecutors.

A lawyer for 24-year-old Caleb Jackson said at a court hearing Friday that his client will plead guilty to felony hazing and manslaughter.

Jackson currently is being held in the Leon County Jail for violating probation and could enter the plea as soon as April.

Attorney Chuck Hobbs says Jackson has expressed remorse over what happened to drum major Robert Champion.

Champion died in November 2011 in Orlando after he collapsed following what prosecutors say was a savage beating during a hazing ritual.

A dozen former Florida A&M band members have been charged with manslaughter and felony hazing.

…read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox US News

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12 charged with manslaughter in FAMU death

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Prosecutors are charging 12 former Florida A&M University band members with manslaughter in the 2011 hazing death of a drum major.

Ten of the band members had been charged last May with felony hazing for the death of 26-year-old Robert Champion, but prosecutors said Monday they are raising the charges to manslaughter. They also have charged two additional defendants with manslaughter.

Champion died in Orlando in November 2011 after he collapsed following what prosecutors say was a savage beating during a hazing ritual. It happened on a bus parked in a hotel parking lot after Florida A&M played Bethune-Cookman in their annual rivalry football game.

Authorities say Champion had bruises on his chest, arms, shoulder and back and died of internal bleeding. Witnesses told emergency dispatchers that the drum major was vomiting before he was found unresponsive aboard the bus.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox US News

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Florida A&M University hires anti-hazing chief

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Florida A&M University has hired alumnus Bryan F. Smith as its anti-hazing administrator.

Interim university President Larry Robinson said Friday that Smith’s job will be ensuring that initiatives adopted after the hazing death of a band member are implemented.

Drum major Robert Champion died in 2011 after he was beaten aboard a bus for the famed Marching 100 band.

Smith will start Feb. 1 and earn $90,000 annually. He said his goal will be to change a hazing culture on the Tallahassee campus.

Smith most recently was executive director and co-founder of Destined for Success Educational Services in Decatur, Ga.

He has a law degree from John Marshall Law School, a master’s in public management from Florida A&M and a bachelor’s in political science from North Carolina A&T State University.

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox US News

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Report: Hazing rules ignored before death at FAMU

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The findings from a year-long investigation show that Florida A&M University officials failed to follow state laws and regulations on hazing.

A 32-page report released Friday concludes that the school lacked internal controls to prevent or detect hazing.

The report comes from the Florida Board of Governors, which oversees the state university system. It ordered the investigation after the death of FAMU band drum major Robert Champion 13 months ago. Champion died after he was beaten by fellow members of FAMU‘s famed Marching 100 band during a hazing ritual aboard a charter bus.

The report comes the same month that a regional accrediting organization placed the school on probation for 12 months. The university has one year to prove it is turning itself around or could have its accreditation revoked.

Source: Fox US News

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Hazing, other scandals threaten FAMU's accreditation

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Florida A&M University is being placed on a year-long probation by a regional accrediting panel after a series of scandals at the school, including the hazing death of a drum major.

FAMU officials were informed Tuesday by the Southern Association of College and Schools that its accreditation is in jeopardy.

If FAMU‘s accreditation is revoked, students won’t be eligible for federal financial aid.

Interim President Larry Robinson stressed that the probation does not affect the current accreditation of academic programs.

SACS took the steps because of several problems, including the revelation that audits were not finished and false summaries were distributed. Robinson also said that SACS raised questions about student safety in the wake of the death of Robert Champion as well as questions about the finances of the Marching 100.
Source: Fox US News