Two more members of a now-defunct fraternity at Ohio University have pleaded guilty to charges stemming from hazing that led to a student’s death two years ago.
Freshman Collin Wiant was found dead on Nov 12, 2018 after ingesting nitrous oxide during a hazing incident at the now-defunct Sigma Pi fraternity.
Joshua Androsac, of Lewis Center, pleaded guilty Wednesday to four counts, including misdemeanor negligent homicide, trafficking of cocaine and hazing. He was ordered to serve 70 days in jail for the misdemeanor offenses, but will not serve any time for the other charges if he completes the Athens County Empowerment (ACE) Program.
Corbin Gustafson, of Furlong, Penn., pleaded guilty to a complicity drug abuse charge. He will also avoid jail time once he completes the ACE rehabilitation program.
Androsac and Gustafson were the last of nine Sigma Pi members to plead guilty in connection with Wiant's death. The fraternity was expelled from Ohio University in April 2019for “hazing and other violations.”
James Dylan Wanke, 25, with Silver Serpent, LLC, is scheduled to appear in the Athens County Common Pleas Court in September. He is charged with first-degree involuntary manslaughter, third-degree involuntary manslaughter, and two counts of trafficking in harmful intoxicants, all felonies. He is also charged with a misdemeanor count of improperly dispensing or distributing nitrous oxide.
The Athens County Prosecutor says the penalty for hazing needs to be upgraded from a misdemeanor to a felony.
“I have worked to change hazing laws with the Wiant family and with Reps. Greenspan, Edwards, and Boggs, and I am looking forward to the General Assembly passing Collin’s Law, hopefully this year," Keller Blackburn added.
