6 suspects in YSU frat hazing jailed on $50K bond

By John W. Goodwin Jr.

jgoodwin@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Six of the nine men wanted in the hazing of two Youngstown State University students attempting to join the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity are now in Mahoning County jail, each on $50,000 bond.

Four of the six men, neatly dressed and accompanied by attorneys, came before Judge Elizabeth Kobly of Youngstown Municipal Court for arraignment Friday. They left the courtroom in handcuffs and were taken to the county jail to join two other men also charged in the case.

Lavell Sharp, 25, of Green Acres Drive, Liberty; Wade Hampton, 24, of Austintown; Jairus Ford, 32, of Greeley Lane; and Jason Anderson, 27, of Illinois Avenue, all walked into court and turned themselves over to authorities.

Co-defendants Trey McCune, 21, of Ohio Avenue, and Edward Robertson, 28, of Catalina Avenue, already were in jail after turning themselves in earlier.

As of Friday evening, police were still looking for Michael Charles, 28, of Illinois Avenue; Jerome Justice, 28, of Campbell; and Raheem Satterthwaite, 22, of Illinois Avenue, in connection with the hazing allegations.

All nine are each charged with two counts of felonious assault in the beatings of Resean M. Yancey, 20, and Breylon Stubbs, 22.

John Marsh, an assistant city prosecutor, recommended $25,000 signature bonds — essentially a personal recognizance bond with a promise to pay — for each of the defendants, but Judge Kobly rejected that recommendation.

She said she cannot stop city Prosecutor Jay Macejko from suggesting a recognizance bond “on a felonious assault that landed someone in a coma, but it will not happen in my court.”

“There will be no signature bond in a felonious assault in this courtroom, ever,” she added.

The judge instead handed down a $50,000 cash/surety bond to each of the six defendants and ordered they be placed in the county jail until the bond is posted. The men also were ordered to stay away from YSU, the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and the two victims in the case.

The judge also took issue with the men coming directly to court to turn themselves in instead of following normal procedure and surrendering at the police station or jail.

She said the direct presentment created a “zoolike atmosphere” in her court.

Atty. Thomas Zena, representing Ford, said he advised his client to come directly to court because the city prosecutor’s office told him to do so. He also said he was under the impression the prosecutor’s office would recommend the recognizance bond.

After the hearing, Marsh said the prosecutor’s office did not tell anyone to report directly to the court. He said the prosecutor’s office always advises people to follow normal procedure.

Macejko said the investigation into the hazing is ongoing. He said there is a local teacher assisting in the investigation but would not say where the teacher is employed or in what capacity the teacher is helping.

Attorneys for some of the men being arraigned said their clients are being charged merely because of association with the fraternity in question, but Macejko said the prosecutor’s office takes the position that all of them were involved equally.

“They all played some role,” he said.

Prosecutors contend both victims were beaten with fists and various objects over an extended period beginning in early January. One of the victims sought medical attention on two separate occasions, and the other victim sought medical attention once and was placed on a respirator while in the hospital.

The assaults did not take place on campus. Police believe the beatings took place at a Woodford Avenue home on the city’s South Side.

Sharp and McCune are YSU students but have been informed by university officials they are no longer welcome on campus.

The Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity chapter was suspended last week, and the university is conducting an investigation that could lead to revocation of the fraternity’s charter on campus.