Hazing won't bring assault charges

LINCOLN -- No sexual assault charges will be filed in relation to an alleged hazing incident involving Sigma Chi fraternity members at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln last year, officials with the Lancaster County Attorney's Office said today.

According to court documents, a former pledge had told UNL police that he was sexually penetrated for a brief period by a female stripper using a vibrator at an off-campus fraternity party last October. However, when contacted by authorities, three strippers who had been at the party denied that penetration occurred during the incident, said Deputy County Attorney Amy Jacobsen.

"There wasn't sufficient evidence to prove the allegation beyond a reasonable doubt," said Chief Deputy County Attorney Joe Kelly.

In court today, former house president Michael Classen, 22, of Omaha, pleaded no contest to misdemeanor hazing and procuring alcohol charges in relation to the incident. He was found guilty and scheduled for sentencing Nov. 20.

Jacobsen said witnesses said the strippers were giving pledges lap dances at the off-campus party. She also said witnesses said Classen gave a stripper $20 and directed her to do "something special" for the former pledge. She also said witnesses said Classen participated in paddling the pledges.

"Now that we have all the facts, we're able to agree the situation was clearly different than it was initially reported, " said Classen's attorney, John S. Berry Jr., of Lincoln. He said his client, who graduated from college last spring, could not comment further because he is named in a civil lawsuit filed by the former pledge.

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