Five plead guilty to fraternity house vandalism

Five men pleaded guilty this week and fined $50 for their role in vandalizing a rival Southeast Missouri State University fraternity house.

Brian C. Beckring, 19, Geoffrey J. Peterson, 19, Brett A. Fay, 19, all of Towers North; Ryan A. Zust, 19, of Towers West; and Patrick J. Betley, 19, of O'Fallon, Mo., entered their guilty plea to misdemeanor trespassing Tuesday before Associate Circuit Judge Scott Thomsen. Each was fined $50.

A misdemeanor property damage charge against the men was dropped in light of their plea, assistant prosecuting attorney Brent Nelson said.

The men were accused of spray painting a room of the Pi Kappa Alpha house with profanity and lewd drawings. The act was an alleged retaliation for members of that fraternity stealing a goat from the Sigma Chi lodge on Oct. 21.

In addition to the fine, all the defendants served between 20 and 60 hours of community service required by the university or their fraternity, Nelson said.

"It was a good resolution," he said.

Two other co-defendants previously pleaded guilty and received the same punishment. One defendant, Kevin M. Weber, 20, of Towers East, is still wanted on a $3,500 cash-only warrant.

kmorrison@semissourian.com 335-6611, extension 127