‘Nothing can undo the harm:’ Two former PSU students sentenced in Tim Piazza case

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WTAJ) — Two former Penn State students, who were fraternity leaders, were sentenced in Centre County Court after pleading guilty to hazing charges in the death of Timothy Piazza in July, Attorney General Michelle Henry announced.

Brendan Young, 28, and Daniel Casey, 27, each previously pleaded guilty to 14 counts of hazing and a single count of reckless endangerment. On Tuesday, Oct. 1, Young and Casey were each sentenced to two to four months in prison with work release eligibility, followed by three years probation and community service.

“Our thoughts are with the Piazza family and everyone affected by this tragedy,” Attorney General Henry said. “Nothing can undo the harm Tim suffered seven years ago — nothing can bring Tim back to his family and friends. With the sentences ordered today, the criminal process reached a conclusion.”

Beta Theta Pi fraternity leaders at the time, Young and Casey participated in and facilitated a 2017 hazing event where Piazza was a sophomore student pledge. Piazza was found unresponsive the next morning after consuming large quantities of alcohol and died days later as a result of multiple falls suffered after his intoxication, according to Henry.

“The Piazza family was instrumental in the Pennsylvania legislature passing the Timothy Piazza Anti–Hazing Law, which includes a felony-graded offense when serious injury or death results,” Henry wrote in a release. “Had that statute been in place at the time of the 2017 incident, the defendants could have been subjected to harsher penalties.”

The cases were prosecuted by Chief Deputy Attorney General Brian Zarallo and Deputy Attorney General Julia van Leeuwen.

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