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2 Kappas at FAMU Get 24 Months

By Sidney Wright IV and Carnell Hawthorne Jr.
Black College Wire

Two members of the Alpha Xi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. at Florida A&M University were each sentenced to 24 months in prison in the beating of a pledge who required hospitalization.

Photo credit: Jamaal Mcknight/the Famuan Michael Morton, convicted member of Kappa Alpha Psi, delivers his final statement to Judge Kathleen Dekker before receiving his sentence.

Circuit Court Judge Kathleen Dekker announced Jan. 29 that Jason Harris, 25, and Michael Morton, 23, will each be credited with 47 days' jail time served. In addition, both will serve three years' probation and must attend a four-hour class on hazing.

Dekker also ordered that the two have no communication with each other or with any other Greek organization for the three years that they will be on probation.

Morton, a former Kappa Alpha Psi chapter president, was accused of striking Marcus Jones, 20, of Decatur, Ga., on the buttocks, while Harris was accused of facilitating the alleged hazing. Brian Bowman, 23, of Oakland, Calif., Cory Gray, 23, of Montgomery, Ala., and Marcus Hughes, 21, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., also allegedly hit Jones with canes, but their cases ended in a mistrial.

Both Morton and Jones will have to pay $5,000 in fines and $50 in court fees.

Harris, of Jacksonville, and Morton, of Fort Lauderdale, were found guilty of third-degree felony hazing on Dec. 15.

They have been held in the Leon County Jail since their conviction, and were taken back into custody after the judge's decision.

Before Dekker announced the sentences, Lena Gallego, who is Morton's fiancee and is four months pregnant with his child, begged the judge for leniency.

"Your honor, I want to remind you that it is not only Michael's future on your hands but mine and that of my unborn child," Gallego said.

In July 2005, former Gov. Jeb Bush signed into law what became Article 1006.63, Section 2 of the Florida statutes, making hazing a serious crime when it results in a victim's "serious bodily injury or death."

This case was the first challenge of the new law.

Bowman, Gray and Hughes are to go back on trial for the third time March 12.

Sidney Wright IV and Carnell Hawthorne Jr. are students at Florida A&M University. Wright just completed a term as editor in chief of the Famuan, and Hawthorne is news editor. To comment, e-mail [email protected]

Posted Jan. 30, 2006