Four Students’ Cases Still Pending

BOSTON, June 27, 2012—One defendant was arraigned today on charges stemming from an alleged hazing incident at an Allston residence earlier this year, two more accepted responsibility for similar offenses, and the cases against four more remain pending, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

JESSE KAY (D.O.B. 2/2/92) of Allston was arraigned today one count each of hazing and failure to report hazing and five counts of assault and battery – one for each of the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity pledges he allegedly abused in an Ashford Street basement on the night of April 8. Kay was released on his own recognizance and will return to court on Aug. 20 with attorney David Losier.

Another man, SPENCER DAVIDSON (D.O.B. 7/13/90) of Allston, faces the same charges that Kay does. He was arraigned June 20 and will return to court with attorney Anthony Rossi.

Kay and Davidson are accused of ordering the victims – who had been told to duct tape themselves to one another – to disrobe. They then allegedly tightened the victims’ tape bonds and poured hot chili sauce on them, causing welts to appear on their skin. They also allegedly ordered the victims to drink fish oil.

Two additional defendants, ROBERT RAPPA (D.O.B. 3/16/90) of Brookline and JONATHON KATZ (D.O.B. 2/22/90) of Brookline, admitted responsibility on civil charges arising out of the same incident. Rappa, charged with hazing and failure to report hazing, will pay $400 in court costs and perform 40 hours of community service. Katz, who had been charged only with failure to report hazing, will pay $200 in court costs.

KYLE SHEVRIN (D.O.B. 8/22/90) of Brookline, also charged with failure to report hazing, did not appear in court today as ordered to and Judge Patricia Bernstein held found him to be in default. She stayed any arrest warrant until Aug. 20, however, based on his representation to the court that he was out of state and could not appear for arraignment.

Rappa had allegedly directed the victims to the Ashford Street basement “to become one with [their] brothers.” Both he and Katz were allegedly present in the building’s residential floors when Boston Police responded to the scene for a radio call at about 12:20 a.m. on April 9. Based on interviews and investigation conducted in the days and weeks that followed, Katz was found to have been at another location at the time of the actual abuse. Shevrin was stopped by officers as he ran to the front door in an apparent attempt to escape police.

MICHAEL SANIEOFF (D.O.B. 6/20/90), a resident at the Ashford Street scene, is charged only with keeping a disorderly house. He was arraigned on that charge on May 18 and will return to court on July 5.

Three other defendants – two 22-year-old Brookline men and a 19-year-old Allston man – had their cases continued while authorities continue to investigate their roles in the incident.

The charge of assault and battery faced by Kay and Davidson carries a maximum penalty of two and a half years in a house of correction. Hazing carries a maximum of one year in a house of correction and/or a fine of up to $3,000. Failure to report hazing carries a maximum of a $1,000 fine.

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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.