Secret Service Hazing
US Secret Service Agent Faces Felony Charges for Brutal Fraternity Hazing Ritual
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A U.S. Secret Service agent has been charged with violent felonies after allegedly taking part in a brutal fraternity hazing ritual in the Miami area, according to KGNS. Two people were left hospitalized with severe injuries. The agent, 29-year-old Marquez Christopher Pinder, works at the Secret Service's Miami field office and has been placed on administrative leave.
Pinder and two other men now face felony charges including hazing with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery with great bodily harm, and attempted manslaughter, WECT reported. The Secret Service said it is cooperating fully with investigators.
Pinder Served as 'Dean of Pledges' for Kappa Alpha Psi
Pinder is described as a 'dean of pledges' for the Miami chapter of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, WIS TV reported. That role typically involves overseeing new members, known as pledges, as they go through the initiation process. Prosecutors say he used that position to carry out the attacks.
The beatings were severe enough to send two victims to the hospital with serious injuries, KOLD reported. Authorities have not released the names of the victims. The exact weapon used in the hazing has not been publicly detailed, but the charges specify a 'deadly weapon' was involved.
Three Men Charged, Including Attempted Manslaughter Count
All three men face multiple felony counts, KALB reported. The most serious charge — attempted manslaughter — signals that at least one victim's injuries were life-threatening. Felony hazing charges are relatively rare, as many states treat hazing as a misdemeanor. Florida law allows felony charges when serious bodily harm occurs.
The other two men charged alongside Pinder have not been publicly identified by name in available reports. It is unclear whether any of the three have entered pleas or retained legal counsel, Fox 5 Vegas reported.
Secret Service Places Pinder on Leave, Cooperates With Probe
The Secret Service moved quickly after charges were filed. The agency placed Pinder on administrative leave and said it is cooperating with investigators, Fox Carolina reported. Administrative leave means Pinder is not on active duty but has not yet been fired.
The Secret Service has faced scrutiny in recent years over the conduct of its agents. This case adds to that pressure, as a federal law enforcement officer now faces charges tied to violent off-duty behavior, according to KPLC TV.
Kappa Alpha Psi Has a Long History of Hazing Allegations
Kappa Alpha Psi is one of the oldest historically Black fraternities in the United States, founded in 1911. Like several other fraternities, it has faced hazing allegations and lawsuits over the years. The national organization has publicly condemned hazing, but local chapters have repeatedly faced allegations, KCTV5 reported.
Florida takes hazing seriously under state law. A 2019 law known as 'Chad's Law' made hazing that results in serious injury or death a felony. That law was named after a Florida State University student who died after a fraternity event. The charges against Pinder and the two other men appear to fall under that statute, according to Fox 10.
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