FAMU Band Member Agrees To Plead No Contest In Hazing Death

A Florida A&M University marching band member has agreed to plead no contest to a felony charge in the hazing death of drum major Robert Champion.

In return for the plea, prosecutors will drop a manslaughter charge against 27-year-old Shawn Turner, who said he did not participate in the hazing and was Champion’s “protector.” Turner’s defense lawyer Carlus Haynes said his client tried to persuade Champion not to participate, and when the 26-year-old decided he wanted to go through with it, Turner tried to help him reach the back of the bus safely. Haynes argued that Champion would have died whether Turner had been present or not.

Turner will not admit guilt, but will instead acknowledge that authorities have enough evidence to get a conviction.

Assistant state attorney Nicole Pegues said Turner will most likely receive a similar community service as the other members who have admitted that they were present at the November 19, 2011 hazing.

Drum major Rikki Wills also pleaded no contest last month, and was expected to be sentenced Friday. Champion’s parents were expected to travel from Georgia to Orlando for the sentencing. Two other former band members have pleaded no contest.

While none of the 13 people charged in Champion’s death have admitted to the hazing, detectives estimated that he was struck 300 times while running through a gantlet of his band mates during a ritual known as “Crossing Bus C.”

Two other former band members, Brian Jones and Ryan Dean, were sentenced to community service last year. Caleb Jackson is set to be sentenced later this year and is expected to receive prison time. Turner claimed that, in trying to help Champion to the back of the bus, he had to fight Jackson, in a statement to prosecutors last month, Jackson said that was false.

The death of Robert Champion led to the indefinite suspension of FAMU’s marching band, the retirement of band director Julian White, and the firing of President James Ammons. Champion’s parents also filed a lawsuit against the university, the bus company, the bus driver, and the hotel where the parking lot was located. The university offered the family $300,000, which they refused.

The remaining defendants have yet to be prosecuted.

[Photo credit: brian steele / Flickr]