A U.S. Secret Service employee is under house arrest after being charged in Florida with attempted manslaughter, accused of participating in a non-university hazing incident involving a fraternity alumni group. Marquez Christopher Pinder, 29, was arrested Monday along with co-defendants Lamar James, 26, and Elijah Dyous, 29, according to Florida State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle.
Pinder, described by prosecutors as the "dean of pledges," allegedly used canes and paddles along with the co-defendants to beat two Kappa Alpha Psi alumni fraternity pledges over four days in early April. One of the victims, a University of Miami Law School student, suffered kidney failure and required surgery. The second victim, identified as a Miami-Dade Fire Rescue employee, also needed critical medical care.
The alleged hazing began on April 1 at an apartment in Sweetwater, Florida, and continued through April 3. The incidents then shifted to another location in Miami on April 4. Prosecutors stated that during one session, victims were asked fraternity history questions, and upon incorrect answers, were instructed to perform squats while being "struck repeatedly” on their buttocks. In another instance, victims were allegedly beaten so severely that they bled through their clothing.
In addition to attempted manslaughter, Pinder, James, and Dyous are each charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and causing great bodily harm, as well as hazing with a deadly weapon. All charges are felonies. The defendants have not yet entered pleas.
The Secret Service confirmed Pinder is an employee and stated the agency is cooperating with the investigation. Pinder has been placed on administrative leave. A judge approved a $75,000 bond for Pinder, with conditions including house arrest, a GPS monitoring device, and no contact with the victims.
The grand chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi issued a statement acknowledging the incident involved members of its Richmond-Perrine, Florida, alumni chapter and noted that the alleged perpetrators are not active members of the fraternity and do not hold official roles within the organization. The fraternity stated it has a "zero-tolerance policy on hazing" and is cooperating with law enforcement.