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Former Beta Theta Pi Brother Requests Jail Time Reduction, House Arrest

Former Beta Theta Pi fraternity brother Luke Visser is requesting a jail sentence reduction and/or house arrest following the 2017 hazing death of then-Penn State sophomore Tim Piazza.

Earlier this month, 21-year-old Visser was sentenced to two to six months behind bars after pleading guilty to six counts of hazing and one count of conspiracy to commit hazing. He was also ordered to pay $2,500 in fines and complete 100 hours of community service.

However, the defendant’s attorneys are now seeking to modify this sentencing to home confinement in Encinitas, California, where Visser currently resides. In the court documents, the attorneys mention that Visser would’ve been sentenced to house arrest, had he not returned to the state of California.

“In material part 3 this Honorable court sentenced Mr. Visser to 60 days confinement, however, made clear that the court would have imposed 60 days home confinement pursuant to the IP program if Mr. Visser was not in California but rather in Pennsylvania.”

Furthermore, the report details an injury Visser received while playing lacrosse for Loyola Marymount University at the beginning of this month.

According to the defense counsel, Visser will need surgery sometime in the foreseeable future, and an additional four to six months of recovery afterward. They suggest this as one of the reasons why Visser is unable to return to Pennsylvania and ask that court to take this into account when considering the request for home confinement in California.

The filings also ask that the court reduce the 60-day sentencing to a lesser period of time, citing Visser’s current medical condition, errors that supposedly occurred during court proceedings, and the fact that Visser pled to six unspecified counts of hazing to no specific person or pledge, as justification.

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About the Author

Rory Pelella

Rory is a senior from Binghamton, New York majoring in Spanish and journalism. She's been bleeding blue and white ever since her older siblings decided to create a family dynasty in Happy Valley in 2006. So, as you can imagine, she loves absolutely everything Penn State (especially the Cheese Shoppe downtown). She's also a die-hard Yankees, Knicks, and Giants fan (it's brutal), and would do anything for a good old fashioned New York slice. Feel free to email her at [email protected] or follow her on twitter @rorypelella.

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