A Central Michigan University student is facing criminal charges for an October incident in which he is accused of smearing peanut butter on the face of a peanut-allergic classmate while he was passed out.
Dale Merza, 20, of Rochester Hills, is charged with misdemeanor hazing resulting in physical injury, according to the Detroit Free Press. The charge carries up to 93 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.
The allegations against Merza made international headlines after Teresa Seely, mother of Andrew Seely, took to Facebook in March to talk about what happened. Pictures of Andrew Seely’s face taken after the incident show the results of the prank -- swelling that had his eyes nearly swollen shut.
The 19-year-old sought treatment for the allergic reaction, MLive reported.
It was not clear if Merza knew that Seely has a peanut allergy.
Seely waited until last month to tell his family what happened to him. Mt. Pleasant police began their investigation on March 3.
MLive reported that Merza turned himself in Friday after investigators obtained a warrant for his arrest.
The alleged hazing happened at Alpha Chi Rho, an off-campus fraternity that the national chapter of the organization banned from official recognition in 2011 for other hazing incidents, the Free Press reported. The national chapter spoke out against the incident earlier this month in a statement.
"The National Fraternity of Alpha Chi Rho is appalled and upset by the actions taken by individuals against Andrew Seely," the March 3 statement read. "The individuals involved were not members and acted independently. Alpha Chi Rho does not condone this type of behavior -- or any form of hazing -- and it stands in conflict with our mission to cultivate men of character, honor and integrity."
The fraternal organization reiterated that there is no Alpha Chi Rho chapter at CMU and stated that, when officials previously learned that a small group of men were improperly operating under its name, the organization sent a letter to stop them.
"In Fall 2016, there were no social events, new member activities, recruitment or organized meetings related to Alpha Chi Rho, nor were they initiated or approved by the National organization," the statement concluded.
Merza’s attorney, Bruce Leach, disputed the charge against his client, telling the Free Press that Merza is not guilty of hazing and had never been in trouble before.
"I'm confident that, once the facts are laid out in court, Mr. Merza will be found not guilty of any kind of hazing," Leach told the newspaper. "This case has been blown way out of proportion by the individual's family members, who were not present and don't have any of the facts."
Teresa Seely sees the situation differently. She told the Free Press that her son could have been killed.
"Our family is devastated," Seely said in a previous interview. "We thought we were sending our child off to school in a safe environment and, obviously, that wasn't the case. He could have died from this."
According to the Mayo Clinic, a peanut allergy is one of the most common causes of severe allergy attacks. Even small amounts of peanuts can cause a serious reaction, and symptoms, which include hives, a runny nose, digestive upset and wheezing, typically start within minutes of exposure.
The most severe reaction is anaphylaxis, which can cause the throat to swell shut, a rapid pulse and a severe drop in blood pressure. Without an injection of epinephrine and a trip to the emergency room, anaphylaxis can be deadly.
Individuals with a peanut allergy typically carry an epinephrine injector, like an EpiPen, with them at all times to self-administer the medication immediately if they accidentally come into contact with peanuts.
Andrew Seely transferred from CMU after one semester because of the incident, the Free Press reported. She did not disclose the name of his new school, fearing potential retaliation.
Merza remains enrolled at the school, though CMU officials are investigating the incident to determine if it violates the student code of conduct. The status of that investigation was not immediately known.
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