Judge Hasbrouck Jacobs scheduled the trial of University of Missouri fraternity hazing defendant John O’Neill for Jan. 30, 2024, according to online court records.
It’s scheduled as a one-day jury trial, with a pre-trial conference scheduled for Jan. 22, 2024.
O’Neill, of Columbia, is charged with felony hazing related to Oct. 19, 2021. The incident left Phi Gamma Delta pledge Danny Santulli with brain damage after he drank large amounts of alcohol and collapsed.
He can’t see, talk or walk now. His parents care for him at their home in Minnesota, with his care paid for by settlements of civil lawsuits with the fraternity and its members.
University documents show a history of alcohol-fueled hazing events at MU fraternities.
O’Neill is one of 11 fraternity members initially charged and is the fourth defendant with a trial date.
The trial for Samuel Morrison is scheduled for Sept. 26; for Samuel Lane on Dec. 19; and for Ryan Delanty, on Dec. 5.
The jury trial for Delanty, Santulli’s designated “pledge dad” is scheduled for four days while all the others so far are scheduled for one day.
Three defendants so far have pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges.
Thomas Shultz and Harrison Reichmann were sentenced to 100 hours of community service and two years of unsupervised probation.
Shultz spent 30 days in jail, while Reichmann was sentenced to 15 days.
Both also must participate in restorative justice mediation if Santulli’s family requests it. If they do, they will be required to admit to their wrongdoing in a room with potentially Santulli and members of his family as the family members tell the defendants how the defendants have harmed them and Santulli. It’s meant as a way to restore defendants to society.
Alec Wetzler has pleaded guilty to misdemeanor supplying alcohol to a minor and misdemeanor purchasing or attempting to purchase alcohol by a minor. His sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 3.