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Red Huber / Orlando Sentinel
Brian Jones looks to the court gallery before being sentenced in an Orlando courtroom for his role in the hazing death of a Florida A&M University band member on Monday.
The first of 12 defendants in the deadly hazing case of Florida A&M drum major Robert Champion was sentenced by an Orlando court on Monday.
Brian Jones, 23, avoided a jail term, but was sentenced to six months of community supervision — a strict monitoring arragement that requires an ankle monitor and frequent check-ins with probation officials — followed by two years of probation. He is also required to do 200 hours of community service, The Associated Press reported.
The band had traveled to Orlando from Tallahassee to perform at a football game when the fellow band members subjected Champion to a severe beating on the bus — in a ritual called "crossing Bus C" — which caused him to fall unconscious, and then die, on Nov. 19, 2011.
Jones, a percussionist, faced up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. But the judge said Jones’ role had been relatively limited.
"This young man's part in this horrible act ... as compared with many others from what I've seen is minimal," said Judge Marc Lubet, ruling in Orange County Court. "It was an isolated incident in this man's life for which he's shown remorse."
Lubet quoted Abraham Lincoln as he announced the sentence, saying that "mercy bears richer fruit than strict justice," the Orlando Sentinel reported.
After initially pleading not guilty, Jones entered a no-contest plea Oct. 9 to a third-degree felony hazing charge.
Champion’s parents attended Monday's court proceedings. Prior to the sentencing, his mother challenged the idea that Jones’ role had been minor:
"You and I know that's not true," said Pam Champion, addressing Jones, and carrying a picture of her son. "You played a critical role."
"You won't be able to put it out if your mind...It will haunt you," she told Jones.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Leave a Comment:
hopefully somebodys punishment will be more than picking up litter.
This "hazing" would probably be called "atrocities" in war time.
This is long term torture over time ending in a brutal death. Where is Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton?? Oh, I guess this is different since they are all African American?
sorry guys-but sometimes when you choose to be hazed, as this grown up, twenty-five year old man did, you must also bear the responsibility of its consequences. He chose to be beaten and he unfortuantely died. It's sad, but he chose it-maybe he should have been raised with more common sense?
This man guy did not choose to be hazed to the point of being killed.These kids that beat him are capable of monsterous acts.The faculty band personnel are just as guilty because they knew about the hazing rituals.Anybody who even pushed this young man should be incarcerated to show them that mob mentality where a death or injury occurs is not ok.It is not ok to put your hands on another person in order to inflict harm.I'd love to be the judge.I'd throw the book at each and everyone of these immature bully's.
Hazing happens, but nothing should ever cost lasting physical, emotional or permanent harm. This guy died for no reason at all and any excuse people come up with to defend these kids is just ludicrous.
ANYBODY who Causes a DEATH, especially such a DESPICABLE death, should have their life taken away too!! The DEATH PENALTY is the only Justice for such SENSELESS TORTURE!!!
I agree. Parents send their children to college and THIS is what they do? Hazing is simply institutionalized, sanctioned torture. This is a pointless, brutal death and to give the people responsible such a slap on the wrist is disrespectful to life itself...shameful
So it's come to this. Killing someone holds no bigger penalty than littering.
I don't think all the defendants should get the death penalty, but I do believe they should ALL get prison time.
IXLRS
The fact that the kids are black has absolutley NOTHING to do with this incident. I'd like to know why you even brought it up. Why can't we read any article in which the subjects happen to be non-white and resist bringing up RACE??
Never mind: I know why.
Tina, The correct answer to that dimwit is this: The death of the victim was not determined to be justified. Actually, TWELVE defendants have been arrested and are being prosecuted. I think that dimwit already knows the reason there haven't been large protests, but perhaps I give the idiot too much credit...
The correct answer to "that dimwit" and to Tina, and to you is this: The reason there are no protests is that the victim and the perpetrators were all black. Therefore, no hate crime. Therefore, no protests.
Where is the justice in the justice system?
he chose to be beaten-no one forced him-and he was in his twenties
I really doubt that he chose to be beaten. Hazing happens all the time, but it doesn't make it right. If the courts give all the parties involved slaps on the wrist, then there will be little deterent on hazing in the future. This has nothing to do with race because hazing happens in all kinds of groups, Fraternities, Sororities, Gangs, etc.
Norman was apparently there. Somehow he magically knows what this guy was thinking and that he was actually there at the time and apparently heard the kid say 'haze me'.
friend in the navy told me about these female recruit sailors that did a code red on another recruit..my friend said this is helpful sometimes but he said these dum bitches put metal lockers in rolled up towels and basically disabled the girl for life ...they should have used soap or nothing in the towels my friend said...they were all discharged and some did some time before they were discharged..this was a funny saying to me once but now its scary.. "large groups of stupid people are dangerous" stupidity kills...
@Norman- That's the second time you've posted that this young man chose to be hazed. Where did it say that in the article? I don't for a second believe that he said, Yeah, beat me.
What is wrong with people? Nobody WANTS to be beaten...Cruel beyond belief. Anyone who thinks this behavior is excusable, needs a psychiatric exam. You are CRAZY.
It doesn't matter whether he chose to be hazed or not. The cruelty of this sadistic unthinkable act of violence demands that every individual who took part in the actual beating be convicted of 2nd degree murder, or something like that. All those who planned or orchistrated the event, should be punished to a slightly lessor degree. I don't know how it is possible for people in the 21st century to be suckered into performing or getting hazed. There is something seriously wrong with these people. If they can do this to one of their own, sort of speak, then what limitations would they have against stranges?!
Idont now where the hell this stupid law came in,but as far as i now for over a 150 years,when someone beats someone,even goofing around,when someone dies from it its manslaughter,and there should be no crime for picking on someone.Yes its wrong and i was against it myself,but thats what made this country what it is today,its called growing a little tough skin.Either you stood up and punched the bully square in the face,and sent him home crying,which we all now most bullies were the biggest P....u....s....s...ies anyway.Or you took it,until you were so fed up,that you stood up and punched him in the face.Or my favorite option was to see a bully picking on someone smaller,and me going up to him and punch him in the face.If all fails then you told your dad,and he goes to the kids house and discusses the broblem with his dad.Court systems are messed up as it is already,it doesnt need this stupid stuff clogging up the system even more.Oh and if the father of the bully kid is a smartazz and tells you to beat it,then you just punch him in the face.I promise you it will stop.A bully's(and dad,cause odds are thats where he picked it up) bark is WAY louder than there bite.
We are a culture which condones violence in cartoons, movies, video games, sports, competitive arenas and in our very own history as a legitimate way of settling differences. Being fed to our youth from early childhood as a way to prove ones toughness/status in society.
Is it any wonder we see hazing being promoted and condoned everywhere and haven't been able to eliminate it successfully?Given the immature brains and thinking of those involved, plus the evidence of showing rituals of children turning into adults in many cultures around the world spanning thousands of years, it is unlikely we ever will.
It will always be devastating for victims and their loved ones who experience the consequences of hazing gone too far.The problem must be tackled earlier rather than later, in elementary schools through education and vigilance and taking the opportunity when cases arise to discuss the implication to each participant's lives.Hopefully in this current case, the assailants will feel the full weight of justice in this life, and into the next for what their vicious acts. I would like to see them speaking to others in colleges as part of their sentences. Not just sitting in jails, watching t.v. eating three meals. So they will never forget the life they took.
wtf 101. yeah,i also grew up in those times.i evan got it if cried before dad whooped me before i was punished just because that wasnt logical to him.im not arguing with you,and agree this stuff aint always supposed to choke a bench but maybe more should have been punished and all with the max.@joseph1616110 i think i did hear something from a friend about what you mentioned.it use to be called a 'blanket party'.did get the point across,but,like you stated about stupid people in large groups.it was inline with corperal punishment.spanking is also in that line,i still think that it should be used,but like any form of physical type torture or whatever you call it only in extremist of cases.not meaning everytime or every violation or evan every kid or person.also,if someone is to administer it,that decision better include atleast 2 or more responsable consenting adults.also,they must be trained in a proper non violital tecnic.all my young years till present,nobody ever came out who did spank a kid and suggest,did you go to school to learn that.pt is,a right way,and a wrong way.i will leave the military out of this.
What a crock!
Far too lenient...
Some body got killed! The Judge just gave them a slap on the wrist! Impeach him voters!
Wow, talk about jumping to conclusions! The judge decided that THIS defendant did little to cause the death of the victim. He did NOT decide the fate of the other 11 defendants. Slow down...
The judge should do the time for this kid since he obviously has no respect for the young man whose life was taken so haniously. No judge should decide sentences based on his or her own opinions. I would be going after the judge. If it were my son who was killed I would get my family together and put all of them six feet under and the judge too. The bible states an eye for an eye and the law is clear on murder. Obviously the judge has no respect for the law he is supposed to be upholding. I'm willing to bet the judge was either paid off or threatened and out of self preservation and selfishness he chose not to give a just sentence. Either way he'd be dead if it were my son whose death was not adequately sentenced.
did you read the case, dummy? he chose to be beaten-in this world of "I bear no responsibility for my life and actions" it is refreshing when some blame is placed on the person who started it all-
So that gives people "carte blanche" to beat him TO DEATH? YOU are NUTS. Nobody could have realized it was going too far? Absolutely insane. This is murder. Plain and simple...Good thing the kid who died wasn't my child...These criminals would beg for the police to come to rescue them...
I guarentee,you will read or see this azzhole on tv killing someone else and he will be serving life.Because thats the way these azzhole bullies think,when they now they got away with something.Thats not my opinion,thats a fact.And not to sound racist,because im not,but the odds are way higher being black,fact.
Glenda,
I am with you on that one. He would suffer the same fate and then I would immediately go to the police station and turn myself in and plead guilty because as long as that bastard was no longer walking this earth I dont care where I would have to spend my days at. I would not care how big of a role he played in it. He was there and did not help my son but attacked him instead. Yeah I would have no problem living the rest of my days in prison for REVENGE!!!!
W.T.F.
Yes, you most certainly ARE racist.
Else why would you have brought it up?
Violence in America is growing every day... about a decade ago, I was also a victim of violence when I was trying to help and become the target, got beat up by 3 black people, luckily police were around arrested them and I end up in the hospital, I was very lucky to make it through, I had to go to the court and they dismiss them because they gave us two different date to appear... not sure how that happened! they also lie and told the Judge I CALLED THEM @!$%# when I did not speak good English at the time! God is my witness I did not say anything except I was trying to help. But later I realized that only N..... like them would act like raging Dogs. No offense to all of you but I already forgive them long time ago.
I learned from my mistakes.. what doesn't kill you makes you only stronger.
Young Mr Jones will spend the rest of his life looking over his shoulder. If I was the father of the young man who was killed, he wouldn't be looking over his shoulder for long.............
youre an idiot-the victim chose to be beaten-he bears the brunt of the responsibility
Norman = Troll. No thank you.
Oregon, AMEN.
Hey Oregon,you would have to beat him to death,the same way to make it feel much better.
Beating someone have no excuse not unless caused by self deffense otherwise.. beating to feel good or powerful or for other stupd reason must be met with the same to learn your lesson.
what goes around comes around no matter what! it s just a matter of time..
To IXLR8
Your comment is ill placed and laced with venomous resentment. The term "African American" is not welcomed fully by the AMERICANS that are labeled as black. This term was coined in 1988 by the UNELECTED AND SELF
ANNOTED Jessie Jackson. Fact of the matter, all blacks do not think alike as some media minded people believe. Misinformed individuals that have a false understanding from mass media outlets should not display their ignorance publicly.
Hazing is a ritual that has been in existence for centuries and I am afraid it will never end. Military indoctrinations has a large hazing element within its process. Since the 1990's our society has become more political correct in many aspects of our lives. Thus, bringing awareness to these horrible acts that has
caused many untimely deaths. The death of the young man is not excusable by no means, but parents should be aware that hazing exist. Sad may it be, but prison sentencing for these young adults will not bring justice to the death of this young man.
I agree. Hazing is centuries old and will probably always exist. One of the things parents can start teaching their children at an early age is the concept that you never risk possible harm to yourself in order to belong to any group. During my college years I watched time and time again, young men and women who were willing to endure both emotional and sometimes physical injury just to join a sorority or fraternity. Neither this young man, or any of the young people who have died during a hazing ritual, deserve to die. Prison would serve no useful purpose. I would rather see these young men complete their educations and be forced to give back to the community for at least a decade by educating young people through some type of program geared toward teaching the ideals of respect for yourself and others. The young men who committed this act will forever be prisoners of their own individual consciences. Let's all hope that more people than just them learn something from this. To those who want to see them punished; I can assure you that their punishment started the moment they all realized they had taken a life.
Ditto regarding Jesse Jackson. Black people never elected him as their leader, nor are most blacks his followers. I awakened one morning to find that the media had elected him.
Looks like justice to me. I don't see Jackson or Sharpton up in arms or the community burning down the city is protest.
Gee, how True!
Hey Pedro Sanchez,thats because the guy they beat was also black,stupid,otherwise you would see them both marching up and down.But only until the city hands over a big check to those 2 big goofs,then they disappear.The stupid black people dont even know Jackson and Sharpton dont give a s....h....i....t. about there own people.But the people dont care there happy to just loot(steal) for a good reason.The Mexicans have those kind of people too.But you dont hear much from thoughs organizations,because you people are getting everything hand over fist.It shouldnt be long before you have enough numbers here in america,because mexicans are walking over like cattle,not to mention Mexicans bread like rabbits.That you will have a Mexican president.A nd thats the time,America will offically be part of Mexico.I wish the worse of luck.
I will say it again for all the posters on here who don't realize it:
This incident has NOTHING to do with the fact that the subjects are black.
And you who bring it up probably accuse blacks of "playing the race card".
Just what do you think YOU are doing?
An Ankle bracelet? Wow, that is really tough punishment. I don't see how he will live through it.
To much sport and other B.S, and to little learning.Maybe if the majority of the student will study more and play less this country will be heading in a better direction.
ER ..Uh-- OLD ALTAR BOY <~~~> "TO much sport...and TO little learning..." (Emphasizes mine!) Yeah, you've proven your own point (Not!).
Hey old alter boy,isnt that whats making are lazy kids fat,by not playing(exersising).I dont know how many calories speed reading through a book of shakespear,or physics burn,but i would bet it ain't much.And i would bet the dumbest kid,including yourself would know that beating a kid could lead to permanent dammage.
I imagine that if that was my son I would have a very hard time accepting that sentence as justice.
Give them all the death penalty by hazing liberal carpet kissers!
Every kid on that bus that touched Mr. Champion belongs in prison for years and years.
"third-degree felony hazing charge."
Interesting how American Justice makes this stuff up as they go.
I see no point in the hazing at all. The members of these bands have to try out and compete in order to earn a spot. Why haze someone who has earned the right to be there? Why isn't legitimate talent and skill enough to prove that you should be there? What the hell does beating a fellow team member have to do with anything?
it takes 2 to haze.
I think colleges should do what they are supposed to do: train people to work in careers. Get rid of the Greek system, fraternities, sororities, band, football team, homecoming and all that other rubbish. Hazing should be illegal, period.
My thoughts exactly.
That makes perfect sense. You beat a man to death and then go free. Agreeing to be hazed should not be equivalent to suicide.
Did I miss something in the article? I saw nothing that said the victim chose to be beaten. A young man was murdered. So far one of the people involved in this murder got probation and community service. So sad that a young man died and a life is worth so little.
From the Orlando Sentinel article: The true test of character is whether you do the right thing when it's extremely
hard to do it. Nobody who was on that bus with Robert Champion did that."
Wow, so you can participate in beating a young man to death and get off easy because you show remorse. Unbelievable.
Everybody is entitled to their opinion because the is Constitution says so! & I'm a believer in our Constitution!
"BUT"!
NOBODY! has that right to physically hurt, injure or KILL someone!
I've always dispised hazing! because it's a form of physical injury!
This also includes > Rivalry! This is another childish form of hate! It can lead to the above in some type of hate or injury to people! Anyone who believe in these things needs to > GROW UP!
Negroes killing again? Now they call it hazing... With friends like that, who needs enemies?
Sad how any article in which the subjects are non-white brings the bigots out of the woodwork.
Where are Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and the rest of the race husslers? No money to be made off this crime? This Young Black Man was beaten to death, street gang style and one of the perpetrators gets off with a "finger wag" and is forced to pick up litter. Where is the Justice for Robert Champion? Or is black on black violence accepted because it is part of the Hip-Hop, Gangsta life style which all young blacks want and accept?
It is a HAZING issue. NOT a black race issue.
When a white kid dies from hazing, why don't you bring up HIS race?
You don't know the difference between hip-hop and gangster, actually you don't know much about anything. According to the evidence, this particular defendant did not cause the death of the victim. Can we save the race baiting foolishness at least until more of he defendants have been tried? There are 11 more of these criminal idiots yet to be adjudicated...
NB820-001: If the particular defendant did not cause his death then why was he punished at all????? The judge admitted that he is being easy on him because the Defendant "showed" remorse.
Tina:
When there are hazings that result in the death of a "white" person it is not a race issue because the white folks dont have hypocrite "reverends" running around shouting about a death of a white person by the hands of others. Whereas Al and Jessie ALWAYS like to step into the spotlight when it is a black victim who victimized by a non white person. Like Bill Cosby said Black folks should be ANGRY that black children and adults are killing each other senselessly and that the modern black community should be ashamed of themselves because the black community placed former gang bangers, former drug dealers etc... as role models to the young black youth. So I ask you to find out why the black community keeps these losers as their role models instead of the "real" black leaders in their community. It is all about the MONEY!!!!!!
usa is great:
But the article is not about black-on-black crime.
The article is about college hazing.
No Tina,
It actual is article about a young black man who was BEATEN to death in a hazing incident that went too far by OTHER Black men. If this was just about hazing in general it would not be in the news since hazing occurs daily at college campuses and other fraternities around this country. You asked why there was questions about All and Jessie and I told you why the question was being asked. Are you not angry that this young mans life is gone because others acted foolishly (all to be a part of a stupoid fraternity)???? Or do you think that because he wanted to be accepted and thought the hazing would hurt but DEFINATELY not kill him that he deserved to die? See I dont care what color his skin was if that were my son, the guy or guys responsible would pay either by spending the rest of their lives in prison, death penalty or by my hands which ever option they wanted, but they would NOT be walking around with a ankle braclet on.
Judge needs to be removed from the bench
I imagine there was something seriously wrong with the kid that was beat up.. I DOUBT if he was beaten to death..
Hey al-2891335,probably the same thing thats wrong with you,weather there was something wrong with him or a athelete.He was killed( at least MANSLAUGHTER).Would you be so overlooking if that was your retarded kid.
W T F
Obviously the Judge agrees with me.
When I was a kid I took alot of beatings, everybody in my neighborhood sooner or later got the $hit kicked out of them.. There s more to this then this article allows
HEY AL,i agree about taking a licking,and also giving them to the bullies who picked on the weak.I agree,its called growing some tough skin,but even back then ,if you killed someone and didnt mean it,its' called manslaughter.
Most people posting don't remember what being young involved. Risk taking seems foolish now but this sort of thing is a rite of passage in a violent society like the USA. The USA was founded with the slaughter of the native people and the concept of slavery. Quakers were a minority.
The real problem is that the culture of hazing still exists. This young man isn't the first to die because hazing got out of hand. Why would anyone even think that hazing was acceptable behavior?
For the idiot who keeps saying he asked for it. No. He didn't. The pressure is on the new kid to submit or you will never belong, never be accepted into the fold, never be a part of the "in-group". Young people are terribly vulnerable to this kind of pressure.
Someone in that bunch should have stopped it, should have said no, should have said it was going too far.
The college knew that these practices were still going on and had taken no strong steps to stop them. They bear responsibility, too. I am not sure what the consequences should be. It was a horrible, stupid thing to do. Someone died. But the group controls the individual if the individual allows it. Think of mob rule. It's an ugly thing. All of the participants are young, probably rather foolish, and poised at the beginning of life. What would be appropriate. You do need to punish this behavior as an example to others. Actions have consequences. I am just not sure which consequences serve the greatest good. I wouldn't want to be the judge in this case.
The victim was 26 or 28 and should have stood up to peer pressure. He should have set an example for the younger students around him instead of caving in and paying with his life...