Fraternity Hazing Sentencing
Former Fraternity Pledge Master Receives Sixty Days in Jail for Hazing Death
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Key Points
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Prosecutor Jonathan Mosher said the drinking game involved pledges passing around a bottle of vodka and drinking from it; the more one pledge drank, the less the others would have to drink.
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Eslick’s mother told the court that he was not drinking that night, was acting as a designated driver, and had left to take others home by the time Martinez needed help.
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Two other people were initially arrested on suspicion of hazing-related charges, but Eslick was the only person later indicted on a felony hazing offense.
Carter Eslick, a former Northern Arizona University fraternity pledge master, was sentenced to 60 days in jail and three years of probation after pleading guilty to hazing that led to 18-year-old Colin Martinez's death. KOLD reported that Eslick supplied vodka and directed pledges to play a dangerous drinking game during a fraternity rush event.
The judge said Eslick bore responsibility but was not solely responsible for Martinez's death. Prosecutors lacked sufficient evidence to charge other fraternity members, despite claims that some lied to police or hid evidence. AZFamily noted that Eslick remains the only person facing felony charges in the case.
The Drinking Game That Turned Deadly
Prosecutor Jonathan Mosher described the fatal hazing ritual in court. Pledges passed around a bottle of vodka, each taking drinks in turn. The rule was simple but deadly: the more one pledge drank, the less the others would have to drink. KOLD reported that this drinking game took place during a fraternity rush event at NAU.
Colin Martinez, just 18 years old, participated in this game. The competition to minimize other pledges' drinking amounts meant Martinez consumed a dangerous quantity of alcohol in a short time. The result was fatal, and his death sparked criminal charges against the fraternity leader who organized it.
Eslick's Defense: He Was Not Drinking That Night
Eslick's mother testified at his sentencing to defend her son's actions. She told the court that Eslick was not drinking alcohol that evening. Instead, he was acting as a designated driver for other fraternity members. AZFamily reported that Eslick had left the event to drive others home before Martinez needed medical help.
Despite his mother's testimony, Eslick accepted responsibility for his role as pledge master. He apologized for supplying the vodka and directing the dangerous drinking game. The judge acknowledged this acceptance of guilt in handing down the sentence, though the court also noted others shared responsibility for the tragedy.
Why Only One Student Faced Charges
Two other fraternity members were initially arrested on suspicion of hazing-related charges. However, only Eslick was later indicted on a felony hazing offense. AZFamily explained that prosecutors said they lacked sufficient evidence to charge the other suspects.
Claims emerged that other fraternity members lied to police or concealed evidence about what happened that night. Martinez's father said others had opportunities to protect his son but failed to act. Prosecutors indicated that further charges may be possible if new evidence surfaces, but for now, Eslick bears the legal burden alone.
A Sentence Described as Pure Punishment
The judge called Eslick's sentence of 60 days in jail plus three years of probation a form of 'pure punishment.' CourtTV reported that this approach reflected the judge's view that Eslick was responsible for Martinez's death but acknowledged others also played a role.
Eslick's guilty plea marked a rare admission of responsibility in a case where responsibility was widely distributed. Martinez's family saw the sentence as inadequate for the loss of their son, while the fraternity community faced questions about why more charges were not filed against others present that night.
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