ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - A plea deal that was contemplated by one of the four defendants facing trial next week for the hazing death of a Florida A & M drum major is off the table.
An attorney for Benjamin McNamee told Judge Rene Roche that his client would consider a plea deal if it could be done before the judge who had handled the case previously.
Judge Marc Lubet had the case before Roche took it over, but he nixed the idea and so it is now off the table.
Fifteen defendants were charged originally in the hazing death of Robert Champion of Decatur, Georgia.
All but four defendants have had their cases settled. A majority received sentences of probation or community service.
