Richmond, Va. - Four men were convicted Thursday on charges connected to the April 2013 hazing deaths of two Virginia State University students from Hampton Roads.
James Mackey, Charles Zollicoffer, Eriq Benson and Cory Baytop appeared in Chesterfield County Circuit Court to enter their pleas.
Mackey entered an Alford Plea and was convicted of two counts of involuntary manslaughter and one count of hazing. He was sentenced to 14 active months in prison with 19 years and 10 months suspended.
Zollicoffer pleaded guilty to one count of involuntary manslaughter and one count of hazing. He was sentenced to 12 active months in prison with 10 years suspended.
Eriq Benson pleaded guilty to one count of involuntary manslaughter and one count of hazing. He was sentenced to five months and 15 days in prison.
Cory Baytop pleaded to guilty to one count of involuntary manslaughter and one count of hazing. He was sentenced to five months in prison.
James Mackey and Charles Zollicoffer are to report to jail in March.
All four men were arrested shortly after the hazing incident occurred in April 2013. The men were part of the non-university sanctioned group “Men of Honor.”
Jauwan Holmes and Marvell Edmonson both drowned in the Appomattox River while attempting to swim across as part of the group's initiation ritual.
Edmondson’s body was pulled from the Appomattox Rivertwo days after he disappeared. Holmes’ body was pulled from the river two days later.
All four men were charged with involuntary manslaughter and hazing.
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