The president and three members of a San Diego State University fraternity were slapped with charges after one of them was intentionally set on fire during a pre-planned skit at a party last year, California prosecutors said.
The Phi Kappa Psi members – Caden Cooper, 22, Lucas Cowling, 20, Christopher Serrano, 20, and Lars Larsen, 19 – are accused of purposely setting Larsen ablaze during a large frat party while the organization was on probation, according to the San Diego County District Attorney.
Larsen, who was also charged, was a pledge at the time and spent several weeks in the hospital receiving treatment for third-degree burns that covered 16% of his body, prosecutors said.
“The university prioritizes the health and safety of our campus community and has high expectations for how all members of the university community, including students, behave in the interest of individuals and community safety and wellbeing,” a university spokesperson said in a statement to The Post.
The university placed the frat on interim suspicion after receiving an anonymous tip of an alleged hazing incident at a Phi Kappa Psi party on Feb. 17, 2024. The frat was already on probation at the time of the incident due to a string of hazing issues, multiple outlets reported.
The institution referred the matter to the DA’s office and has since launched an administrative investigation, the spokesperson said.
Larsen, Cooper and Cowling planned the dangerous stunt, in which Serrano was directed to set Larsen on fire, prosecutors said, adding that the underage students consumed alcohol before executing the skit.
Cooper was the fraternity president, Cowling was on the pledge board, and Serrano, like Larsen, was a pledge.
Prosecutors said Larsen, Cooper and Cowling then attempted to cover up the incident by lying to police, deleting evidence and instructing other frat members to do the same if approached by law enforcement.
The frat brothers were each charged with at least one felony, including recklessly causing a fire with great bodily injury, conspiracy to commit an act injurious to the public, and violating the social host ordinance.
If convicted of all charges, the students could spend up to seven years in prison, prosecutors said.
They were each arraigned on Monday and released on the condition they not participate in any fraternity events or recruitment. They were also ordered not to drink alcohol if underage.
All four men pleaded not guilty and are due back in court on March 18.
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