Plea deals are being offered to at least some of the nine fraternity members facing charges in the hazing death of Florida State University pledge Andrew Coffey.
The plea offers were laid out in an email shared Monday with a number of defense attorneys. That email was obtained Wednesday through a public records request.
Under the terms of one agreement, the defendants could:
- Plead guilty to two counts of misdemeanor hazing with adjudication withheld
- Spend 60 days in the Leon County jail
- Followed by two years of probation
- Be required to testify or publicly speak about Coffey's death at every forum requested
- Take a hazing awareness class
- Be prohibited from alcohol with random testing
- Provide a written or verbal apology to the Coffey family
The second is the same, except the defendants would be able to:
- Plead guilty to one count of felony hazing
- Complete 60 days in the Leon County Sheriff's Office jail work camp (instead of serving jail time)
"I think this allows your clients to both accept responsibility and avoid lifelong consequences," Tallahassee State Attorney Campbell wrote. "The Coffey family has been consulted. … Ultimately, the plea also serves the greater goal of changing a culture that condones hazing and binge drinking."
Attorneys for the defendants have until April 1 to accept the offers, which would also expire if they file motions in the case, Campbell wrote.
Coffey, a 20-year-old junior from Pompano Beach, was found dead Nov. 3 at an off-campus home where a Pi Kappa Phi party had taken place the night before.
An autopsy revealed that Coffey died from alcohol poisoning.