Man pleads guilty in Pike alcohol case
The second of two men pleaded guilty Wednesday after being charged for supplying alcohol to a minor at a USU fraternity party in late September that resulted in a 17-year-old girl being hospitalized for alcohol poisoning.
Casey Justin Hafla appeared before Judge Clint S. Judkins in 1st District Court and pleaded guilty to supplying alcohol to a minor, according to court records. The charge is a class B misdemeanor and could result in up to 180 days in jail, $1,000 in fines and possible probation.
“Upon a guilty plea … the state will recommend the same sentence as the co-defendant,” court records state. Hafla’s co-defendant is former USU student Hayden Ahlbrandt.
Hafla, a student and former member of USU’s chapter of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, had his pin revoked after he and Ahlbrandt were arrested for suspicion of selling, offering or furnishing alcohol products to a minor. The fraternity was temporarily suspended for its involvement with the incident – namely for hosting the party at which the incident occurred.
The girl was treated at Logan Regional Hospital, released and referred to juvenile court, according to a Statesman report.
Ahlbrandt pleaded guilty to the same class B misdemeanor, before Judge Thomas Willmore, on Jan. 5 after waiving a preliminary hearing. Willmore sentenced Ahlbrandt to 180 days in Cache County Jail but suspended all but two days, pending the completion of six months probation and submission of a book report based on Victor Hugo’s book, “Les Miserables.”
Hafla is scheduled to appear for sentencing 9 a.m. May 14 in Courtroom 1 at 1st District Court.
– dan.whitney.smith@aggiemail.usu.edu