A former Northern Arizona University fraternity pledge master will serve jail time after he pleaded guilty to hazing charges that arose from the death of an 18-year-old student in January.
A judge sentenced Carter Eslick to 60 days in jail on Wednesday, September 30, in connection with the death of Colin Martinez, according to KPNX-TV. Martinez died of alcohol poisoning following a drinking game allegedly led by Eslick.
Eslick, 20, a former Delta Tau Delta member, also received three years of probation following his sentence. He previously pleaded guilty to a hazing charge in August.
“I’m so incredibly deeply sorry for the events that happened on January 30th, and I take full responsibility for the hand that I played in that ritual,” Eslick said at sentencing, apologizing to Martinez’s family, per the TV station. “I know nothing I say here can replace or give any type of closure to the Martinez family, because I can’t even imagine what the pain of you losing a child feels like.”
In court, Judge Stacy Krueger said to Eslick, “You are responsible. But you are not solely responsible.”
Eslick and two others were initially arrested on suspicion of hazing charges after Martinez died in relation to the frat event occurring January 30 into the morning of January 31, according to the Coconino County Attorney’s Office.
Following the arrests, Eslick was the only person indicted on a felony hazing offense, the attorney’s office said in a March 27 news release.
The charge alleged “Eslick, in connection with initiation or affiliation activities, intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly caused or coerced Colin Martinez to consume substances posing a substantial risk of death, resulting in his death,” according to prosecutors.
At the party at an off-campus Delta Tau Delta house where pledges including Martinez were allegedly forced to play drinking games, prosecutors said Eslick supplied vodka and was in charge of the rules, AZFamily reported.
According to court documents viewed by the outlet, Martinez and three other pledges drank about 3.5 vodka liters.
At some point, Martinez fell asleep and gagged, becoming unresponsive, according to KPNX-TV. One person tried performing CPR before he was ultimately declared dead.
His blood alcohol level measured during an autopsy was reportedly 0.425 percent, which is five times higher than the legal limit.
Martinez’s parents virtually attended Eslick’s sentencing and expressed they didn’t want Eslick to receive a lengthier sentence, per AZFamily. Martinez’s father, Chris Martinez, also discussed his family’s grief.
“Every morning since January 31, our families have awakened to the reality that he is not coming home,” the father said. “No parent should ever have to bury their child.”
