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Four members of San Diego State University Phi Kappa Psi fraternity faces felony charges after a skit at a party last year led to a pledge being set on fire.
The arsonist suffered third-degree burns covering more than 16% of his body in the skit, which aired on February 17, prosecutors said.
Kaden Cooper, 22; Lucas Cowling, 20; Christopher Serrano, 20, and Lars Larsen, 19, were charged Monday with at least one felony count, and all four have pleaded not guilty. Larsen was on fire.
The charges include recklessly causing arson causing grievous bodily harm, conspiracy to cause public harm and breaching a social housing order. If convicted on 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)
All four defendants were either active members or pledges of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. Cooper was president of the fraternity and Cowling was on the Pledge Council, while Serrano and Larsen were pledges, prosecutors said.
Larsen and Serrano, who were under the legal drinking age, also drank alcohol before the skit in Cowling’s presence.
In recent years, university communities have engaged in activities that have prompted investigations, and at least half a dozen have been placed on probation in the past two years, according to the university.
In 2020, the university was investigating allegations that a fraternity leader promoted hazing. It comes a year after the death of a freshman who fell from a bunk bed and fractured his skull after drinking with his brother the night before.
Students and parents walk around campus during homecoming day at San Diego State University in San Diego, Calif., Friday, Aug. 21, 2020. (Getty Images)
Phi Kappa Psi fraternity already was internship at the university for violating its alcohol and hazing policy when the party was arson almost a year ago.
According to prosecutors, the party included a skit in which Serrano set Larsen on fire.
According to prosecutors, Cowling, Serrano and Larsen planned a scene in which Serrano set Larsen on fire. Larsen was in the hospital for several weeks with third-degree burns, mostly to his legs.
After the incident, Cowling, Larsen and Cooper lied to law enforcement investigation of the incidentdeleted the evidence on social media and told other fraternity members to delete the evidence and not to talk to anyone about what happened, according to prosecutors.
OLE MISS FRATERNITY SUSPENDED DUE TO ABUSE ALLEGATIONS AFTER VIDEO EMERGED
Heppner 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)
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The four were released from jail and ordered to return to court on March 18 to prepare for a preliminary hearing scheduled for April 16.
They were also ordered not to participate in any fraternity parties or recruiting activities and to obey alcohol laws.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
