State College Borough Police and Penn State Police have completed a five-week, joint investigation into the source of alcohol involving the death of Penn State student Joseph Dado, 18, who was found dead Sept. 21 on campus after falling. Toxicology reports showed his blood alcohol content was .169 percent.
Police filed criminal charges with Magisterial District Justice Jonathan Grine today (Oct. 29) against the following organizations and individuals:
-- Alpha Tau Omega fraternity is charged with violations of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code, Title 18, Section 6310.1, selling or furnishing liquor or malt or brewed beverages to minors, and of the Pennsylvania Liquor Code, Title 47, section 4-493 unlawful acts relative to liquor, malt and brewed beverage and licensees for furnishing alcohol to Joseph Dado on Sept. 19 and 20.
-- Phi Gamma Delta fraternity (FIJI) is charged with violations of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code, Title 18, Section 6310.1, selling or furnishing liquor or malt or brewed beverages to minors, and of the Pennsylvania Liquor Code, Title 47, section 4-493 unlawful acts relative to liquor, malt and brewed beverage and licensees for furnishing alcohol to Joseph Dado on Sept. 19 and 20. During the investigation into those who furnished alcohol to Joseph Dado prior to his death, the detectives obtained evidence of an additional furnishing alcohol to minors violation against FIJI. In that separate case, the fraternity has been charged with violations of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code, Title 18, Section 6310.1, selling or furnishing liquor or malt or brewed beverages to minors, of the Pennsylvania Liquor Code, Title 47, section 4-493 unlawful acts relative to liquor, malt and brewed beverage and licensees for furnishing alcohol to an underage person on Sept. 12.
-- John "Jack" Townsend, a member of FIJI fraternity, is charged with violations of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code, Title 18, Section 6310.1, selling or furnishing liquor or malt or brewed beverages to minors, and of the Pennsylvania Liquor Code, Title 47, section 4-493 unlawful acts relative to liquor, malt and brewed beverage and licensees for furnishing alcohol to Joseph Dado on Sept. 20.
-- Jennifer E. Clifford, a student, is charged with violations of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code, Title 18, Section 6310.1, selling or furnishing liquor or malt or brewed beverages to minors, and of the Pennsylvania Liquor Code, Title 47, section 4-493 unlawful acts relative to liquor, malt and brewed beverage and licensees for furnishing alcohol to Joseph Dado on Sept. 18.
The criminal charges will be sent to those charged by summons with a preliminary hearing date to be determined later.
The charges also will be turned over to Penn State's Office of Judicial Affairs, which will go through its procedures to determine whether University policy has been violated. This process is separate and independent from the criminal investigation.
This has been a joint investigation between the Penn State University Police Department and the State College Police Department. Based on the information and evidence discovered during this investigation, both police agencies have concluded that excessive consumption of alcohol played a major role in this tragic incident.