Three plead no contest over UT pledge's 2005 death

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

(9/25/07 - AUSTIN, TX) -- Three leaders of a suspended University of Texas fraternity pleaded no contest Tuesday to the misdemeanor charge of hazing following the death of an 18-year-old pledge from alcohol poisoning.

Former Lambda Phi Epsilon President Benny Chan, 24, former pledge captain Andrew Nguyen, 22, and former "Hellmaster" Kamal Pulukuri, 23, were each sentenced to two years deferred adjudication, a form of probation.

They left court without comment.

Prosecutors began a hazing investigation at the fraternity's UT chapter after the 2005 death of Phanta "Jack" Phoummarath, a freshman honors student from Houston who was found dead at an off-campus house the fraternity was renting.

"Nobody ever meant for that to happen at all," Nguyen's defense lawyer, Bill White, said outside court. "You cannot legislate against youthful indiscretion."

Prosecutors have said the death came amid hazing at the predominantly Asian fraternity that included requiring prospective fraternity members to drink large quantities of water and alcohol.

The sentences were part of a plea bargain that also calls for the men to pay a $1,000 fine, perform 100 hours of community service, take an alcohol awareness class, issue an apology to Phoummarath's family, and give a full description of the "hell week" activities of the fall semester and the party that followed.

The three also agreed to be interviewed for a video about hazing.

In December, a Travis County grand jury indicted Chan on seven counts of furnishing alcohol to minors and 22 counts of hazing. Nguyen was indicted on seven counts of furnishing alcohol to minors and 28 counts of hazing, and Pulukuri was indicted on 14 counts of hazing.

The charges included counts for the night Phoummarath was found dead, but were not limited to that night.

While Phoummarath's family members said the sentence was fair, they are still shocked that his friends dragged the incoherent freshman up a flight of stairs shortly before he died.

"It was inhumane," said his sister Marion Phoummarath, 27.

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