Man pleads not guilty to voyeurism charge stemming from report at UA fraternity house

FAYETTEVILLE -- A 20-year-old man has pleaded innocent in Washington County Circuit Court to a misdemeanor count of video voyeurism related to a report at the Lambda Chi Alpha house at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.

Garrett Wolff was charged Sept. 22 in connection with a report received in April by UA police about voyeurism taking place weeks earlier at the Lambda Chi Alpha house, Washington County prosecutor Matt Durrett said in an email.

The charge relates to recording images of sexual activity inside a bathroom stall at the fraternity house, Durrett said. Court documents state that Wolff on or about Feb. 28 "knowingly photographed a person inside a bathroom stall without their consent, and shared the image."

The misdemeanor carries a penalty of up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $2,500. A trial is set for Dec. 1.

A UA investigation of the fraternity earlier this year found the group responsible for disorderly conduct, serving alcohol to those underage, failing to register a social function as required by school policy, and "conduct which encourages or enables illegal activity and/or a violation of the Code of Student Life."

A July 3 letter from Rachel Eikenberry, director of the UA Office of Student Standards and Conduct, states that the organization was found not responsible for sexual harassment.

Eikenberry's letter also states that the group was found responsible for hazing, but the finding of hazing was overturned on appeal, according to a July 20 letter signed by Chancellor Joe Steinmetz and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Charles Robinson.

Steinmetz and Robinson imposed sanctions that include a prohibition on alcohol at the fraternity house until May 13 and no social events except for rush until Dec. 17. They reversed university sanctions issued earlier to remove the fraternity from its chapter house and suspend the group.

The letter from Steinmetz and Robinson states that they find no basis for the hazing claim. They, did, however refer to evidence collected on record as part of the school's investigation.

"It contains photographic images from the event in question that clearly depict misconduct by numerous members of the fraternity, conduct that violates University policy, and, in some instances, is nothing less than appalling," the letter states.

In reducing the sanctions, Steinmetz and Robinson noted that the group had been placed on interim suspension since April 7, with no gatherings allowed.

"We suspect that the interim suspension will discourage Lambda Chi Alpha from committing conduct violations in the future," the letter states.

ADVERTISEMENT

More headlines

The national Lambda Chi Alpha has placed the UA chapter on probation through April, according to a July letter from Nicholas Zuniga, then the national director of chapter services. The disciplinary letters were released by UA in redacted form under the state's public disclosure law.

Metro on 10/09/2017

Upcoming Events