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Former Beta Theta Pi Brother Receives Reduced Sentence, 45 Days House Arrest

Former Beta Theta Pi fraternity brother, Luke Visser, is receiving a reduced sentence for his role in the 2017 hazing death of Penn State student Tim Piazza.

The Honorable Brian K. Marshall ruled in favor of Visser’s Motion to Modify Sentence Wednesday. “The Court vacated the previous ruling and imposed a non-incarceration sentence of 45 days home confinement,” said defense attorney Theodore Simon.

In April, 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 $2500 in fines and fulfill a requirement of 100 hours of community service.

Later that same month, Visser’s attorneys filed a motion requesting reduced sentencing and/or house arrest. The motion cited an injury Visser received while playing lacrosse, errors that supposedly occurred during court proceedings, and the fact that the court made it clear Visser would have received home confinement had he not relocated to California, as justification for reduced sentencing.

Visser is now one of three former Beta Theta Pi brothers who have had their jail sentences resulting from guilty pleas switched to house arrest. Joshua Kurczewski is now receiving an intermediate punishment for nine months, including three months of home confinement, while Michael Bonatucci is now serving three months of intermediate punishment with thirty days of home confinement, according to WTAJ.

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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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