12 now charged with manslaughter in hazing death

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Twelve former Florida A&M University band members were charged yesterday with manslaughter in the 2011 hazing death of a drum major.

Ten of the band members were charged last May with third-degree felony hazing in the death of Robert Champion, 26, but the state attorney's office said they are adding the charge of manslaughter for each defendant. They also have charged two additional defendants with manslaughter, though they have yet to be arrested.

The second-degree manslaughter charge carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison.

Champion died in Orlando in November 2011 after he collapsed following what prosecutors say was a savage beating during a hazing ritual. It happened on a bus parked in a hotel lot after Florida A&M played Bethune-Cookman in their annual rivalry football game.

Champion had bruises on his chest, arms, shoulder and back and died of internal bleeding. Witnesses said the drum major was vomiting before he was found unresponsive.

Christopher Chestnut, an attorney for Champion's parents, said Pam and Robert Champion Sr. of Decatur, Ga., were pleased with State Attorney Jeff Ashton's decision to upgrade the charges.

"These charges are commensurate with the acts committed," Chestnut said. "It sends the right message regarding zero-tolerance of hazing in the FAMU band."

Prosecutors had originally filed felony hazing charges that required only that they prove the defendants took part in a hazing that resulted in death. It didn't require them to prove who struck the fatal blows.

Ashton's office issued no comment. Ashton, a 30-year veteran who was on the team that failed to convict Casey Anthony of murder in 2011, was sworn in as the top prosecutor in January after beating his former boss in a hotly contested election.

Since Champion's death FAMU has made sweeping changes to fight hazing. The band remains suspended indefinitely. The university is still searching for a new director for the band.