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Jackson County State's Attorney's Michael Wepsiec has charged one former Pi Kappa Alpha member with one alcohol-related charge, but the situation is mum on whether more charges will result from the April drowning of fraternity pledge Brent Johnson.
Charges were filed in late May against 21-year-old Bjorn Eric Westlund for the alleged delivery of alcohol to Johnson, 19, in the early morning hours of April 4 shortly before Johnson drowned in Cedar Lake.
Westlund could receive fines ranging from $100 to $1,000, but does not face the possibility of jail time.
Wepsiec would not comment on whether any additional charges would be added.
Meanwhile, University Judicial Affairs awaits new information before making any punishments on individuals.
"We had not received any reports still from the county," said Larry Dietz, SIUC vice chancellor of Students Affairs and Enrollment Management. "Until we get a report, we have nothing to go on,"
Dietz said he plans to talk to Coordinator of Student Judicial Affairs Terry Huffman soon about whether any new information has been made available. And according to Dietz, the school might not receive any information from Jackson County, as it is not obliged to privy that information.
A Jackson County Coroner's jury ruled in late May that Johnson's death was accidental with the autopsy showing no signs of trauma other than those consistent with drowning. The toxicology reports performed by Jackson County Coroner Thomas Kupferer showed a blood alcohol level of .109 percent. Johnson's vitreous alcohol level, believed to be more accurate measurement, was .186 percent. No other drugs were found in Johnson's system.
Dietz, who has been in close contact with Johnson's family throughout the ordeal, said the University has not received any notification that the family will pursue a civil suit, but did not rule it out of the realm of possibility.
"The family has not wished to talk much about this situation," Dietz said. "Anybody can sue anyone at anytime. But I have not received any information that they will."
Pi Kappa Alpha, more commonly known as the Pikes, was permanently removed from the campus in late April after Katherine Sermersheim, director of SIUC Student Development, found the fraternity guilty of eight alcohol and risk management violations tied to the camping trip. The dismissal was the first time a fraternity has been permanently removed in school history.
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