CONWAY -- Five University of Central Arkansas students charged in what campus officials called the "hazing" of a fraternity pledge pleaded innocent Monday in Faulkner County Circuit Court, prosecuting attorney Cody Hilland said.
Isaiah Christopher Ozuna, 22, of Conway pleaded innocent to felony second-degree battery and to four counts of misdemeanor hazing.
Blake Battles, 20, of Conway; Kevin Nguyen, 20, of Maumelle; and Rico Spears, 21, of Conway; each pleaded innocent to four counts of misdemeanor hazing.
Deven Dyer, 21, of Jacksonville, failed to appear in court Monday morning, and Hilland issued a warrant for his arrest. Dyer appeared in court later Monday and pleaded innocent. Hilland recalled the failure to appear warrant on Dyer, he said.
The five will have a pretrial hearing in April, Hilland said.
The students were arrested March 7 after UCA police said they were involved in the paddling of four Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity pledges. A police affidavit said the hazing began March 4 and continued into the morning hours of March 5 at a house Krystal Kreek Drive in Conway.
One of the fraternity's pledges had welts and discoloration on his buttocks, the police affidavit said.
UCA spokesman Fredricka Sharkey said the Iota Gamma chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi had been placed on cease and desist, meaning the organization cannot hold fundraisers, events or meetings until the investigation is concluded. Students who enter fraternities and sororities at UCA are required to sign an agreement stating that they will not participate in any hazing activities.
State Desk on 03/19/2014