New indictment handed up in ’17 UH fraternity hazing case

A newly filed indictment in the 2017 hazing case brought against the former University of Houston chapter of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity names three men who prosecutors say are responsible for a “blindside attack” that left a pledge with a lacerated spleen and other acts that affected the victim’s mental and physical health.

Nicholas Augustine and James Townsend, members of the fraternity at the time, are accused in the indictment of forcing the victim to “roll around in feces, tobacco spit and vomit” on Nov. 17, 2016, as part of an “initiation” into the now-defunct chapter of the organization. Brian Mendoza, another member of the organization at the time, and Augustine tackled the pledge in the dark on Nov. 19, 2016, according to the indictment, causing the injury to his spleen.

Before the new indictment was handed up by a grand jury this week, the men had not been publicly named.

The pledge was also forced to go without food, drink and sleep during a three-day ritual, according to the original 2017 indictment. He was forced to sleep in a small, contained area, and in one hazing ritual, he was tackled in the dark by fraternity members, which resulted in his hospitalization, according to the indictment.

The previous indictment in the case was quashed by a judge, according to Dane Schiller, spokesperson for the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, because of concerns about the statutory language.

“This was a technical thing among lawyers to ensure the fraternity clearly understands what it is accused of doing,” Schiller said. “Prosecutors adjusted the wording, added some additional information, and went back to a grand jury and grand jurors voted to issue an indictment.”

The 2017 indictment was the first charge for hazing to be filed in Harris County, officials said at

the time.

Pi Kappa Alpha International Fraternity, which is named as a defendant in the case, was not immediately available for comment Thursday. The organization has previously said it does not control any chapter, members or activities. It revoked the University of Houston chapter’s charter in August 2017.

The University of Houston suspended the fraternity for violating its anti-hazing policies, Shawn Lindsey, executive director of media relations at the school, said this week. The suspension expires in October 2023.

“We are grateful that our county partners have delivered a stern message through the grand jury’s decision against the fraternity, that such behavior, which jeopardizes the wellbeing of our students, will not be tolerated,” Lindsey said.