Four members of San Diego State University The Phi Kappa Psi fraternity is facing criminal charges after a skit performed at a party last year led to a pledge being set on fire.
The member who was set on fire suffered third-degree burns covering more than 16% of his body as a result of the skit performed on Feb. 17, prosecutors said.
Caden Cooper, 22; Luke Cowling, 20; Christopher Serrano, 20, and Lars Larsen, 19, were each charged with at least one crime Monday, and all four pleaded not guilty. Larsen was the person who was set on fire.
The charges include recklessly causing fire occasioning grievous bodily harm, conspiracy to commit an act injurious to the public and breaching the Social Guest Ordinance. If convicted of all charges, the defendants could face up to seven years in prison.
The Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity House at San Diego State University on Wednesday, May 7, 2008 in San Diego. (AP)
The four defendants were all active members or pledges of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. Cooper was the fraternity’s president and Cowling served on the Pledge Board, while Serrano and Larsen were pledges, prosecutors said.
Larsen and Serrano, who were not of legal drinking age, also drank alcohol before the skit while in Cowling’s presence.
In recent years, the university’s fraternities have engaged in activities that have sparked investigations, with at least half a dozen placed on probation in the past two years, according to the university.
In 2020, the university investigated allegations that a student leader promoted blackout drinking. That came a year after the death of a college freshman who fell from a bunk bed and fractured his skull after drinking with his fraternity member the night before.
Students and parents walk across campus during move-in day at San Diego State University on Friday, August 21, 2020 in San Diego, California. (Getty Images)
The Phi Kappa Psi fraternity already existed probation by the university for violating its alcohol and hazing policies when the fire incident at the party occurred nearly a year ago.
According to prosecutors, the party included a skit in which Serrano set Larsen on fire.
Cowling, Serrano and Larsen planned the skit in which Serrano set Larsen on fire, according to prosecutors. Larsen was hospitalized for weeks with third-degree burns, mainly on his legs.
After the incident, Cowling, Larsen and Cooper lied to police investigate the incidentdeleted evidence on social media and told other fraternity members to delete evidence and not talk to anyone about what happened, prosecutors said.
OLE MISS FRATERNITY SUSPENDED OVER EJECTION MOVEMENTS AFTER VIDEO SURFACES
Hepner Hall on the campus of San Diego State University (SDSU), part of the California State University (CSU) system, in San Diego, California, on Thursday, July 9, 2020. (Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
The four were released from jail and ordered to return to court on March 18 in preparation for a preliminary hearing on April 16.
They were also ordered not to participate in fraternity parties or recruitment events and to abide by alcohol laws.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
