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A6 U.S. NEWS
Friday 1 September 2017

Defense in Penn State frat pledge death argues for dismissal

By MARK SCOLFORO clair they had little reason said many of the defense
Associated Press to anticipate that 19-year- arguments are more suit-
BELLEFONTE, Pa. (AP) — At- old Tim Piazza, of Lebanon, able for a jury to consider,
torneys for Penn State fra- New Jersey, would con- and she disputed a sug-
ternity members charged sume dangerous amounts gestion that the fraternity
in the death of a pledge of alcohol and fall several members wouldn’t have
after a night of drinking and times. known of the danger be-
hazing argued Thursday “Yes, there’s excessive cause no one had died
that their clients’ roles were drinking on college cam- previously during the frater-
minimal or did not amount puses,” argued attorney nity chapter’s long history.
to criminal behavior. Theodore Simon, who rep- “As far as this idea, ‘Well,
A preliminary hearing for resents Luke Visser. “That nobody died before,’ do
16 members of Beta Theta does not transform it into they really think they get
Pi continued for a seventh criminal behavior.” a free death before some-
day, with lawyers arguing Centre County District At- one is held responsible?”
to District Judge Allen Sin- torney Stacy Parks Miller Parks Miller said to Sinclair.

Beta Theta Pi President Brendan Young arrives for the seventh
day of preliminary hearings Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017 at the Centre
County Courthouse in Bellefonte, Pa. District Judge Allen Sinclair
said he may decide by the weekend whether prosecutors have
presented enough evidence to hold a trial for former members
of the now-closed Penn State fraternity charged in connection
with a pledge’s death.
(Phoebe Sheehan/Centre Daily Times via AP)
The judge said he may untariness of the drinking” is
decide by the weekend an important factor when
whether to forward charg- considering Piazza’s fate.
es to county court for trial. “What we have is evi-
The fraternity is also a de- dence from this record that
fendant, and two others this tragic death was simply
waived the hearing. not foreseeable here,” said
Defense attorney Michael Engle, who represents de-
Engle argued that “the vol- fendant Gary DiBileo.q

APNewsBreak: Motel 6 to pay
to settle human trafficking suit

By MICHAEL BALSAMO 6 chain, seeking to quell
Associated Press “unrelenting crime and nui-
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mo- sance activity.”
tel 6 has agreed to pay Los Angeles police had
$250,000 to settle a law- made more than 60 ar-
suit brought by Los Ange- rests at the location since
les that alleged one of 2013 for prostitution, bat-
the chain’s locations was tery, firearms possession
a base for human traffick- and drug-related charges,
ers, drug dealers and gang authorities said. “We al-
members, prosecutors said. lege this has been used as
Los Angeles City Attorney a base for which known
Mike Feuer told The Asso- gang members and drug
ciated Press on Wednes- dealers had operated,”
day that the money will Feuer said. “We allege that
be used to help deter hu- there was prostitution hap-
man trafficking. The city in pening at this site — pimps
November sued the man- and prostitutes both — and
agers of a motel in the Syl- we allege it was a base for
mar neighborhood and G6 stolen goods, for distribut-
Hospitality Property LLC, ing drugs like meth and co-
which operates the Motel caine and heroin.”q