FOUR TEXAS STATE FRATERNITY PLEDGES FACE JAIL TIME AFTER ALLEGEDLY TAPING STUDENT’S MOUTH AND FORCING HIM INTO TRUCK

Four college students in Texas are facing criminal charges after allegedly forcing a fellow fraternity member into a pickup truck while he shouted for them to let him go. Police say the group described the incident as a fraternity “tradition.”

The incident occurred on the night of October 20, 2026, in San Marcos, near Texas State University. Witnesses reportedly called 911 after seeing several men forcing another man into a blue pickup truck.

Authorities later determined that the incident involved members of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. The four suspects were identified as Noah Lara, 20, Wyatt Carr, 18, William Oldner, 19, and Tyler Fogg, 18.

All four were arrested and charged with hazing, according to police.

Witnesses Report Student Screaming for Help

San Marcos police received multiple calls at approximately 10:40 p.m. on Tuesday, October 20, after witnesses reported seeing several men forcing another individual into a truck.

According to a probable cause affidavit cited by local media, the 18-year-old victim had his mouth taped shut and was yelling for help and demanding that the group let him go.

Officers tracked down the vehicle at the Arba Apartments, approximately two miles from the university campus. Their investigation reportedly identified the four men as fraternity pledges and the victim as an active member of the same organization.

Police said those involved described the incident as a fraternity tradition.

Authorities have not reported any physical injuries to the victim.

Four Students Face Potential Jail Time

The four men were charged with Class B misdemeanor hazing under Texas law.

If convicted, each could face up to 180 days in county jail, a fine of as much as $2,000, or both.

The charges remain allegations, and all four defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Court records reported by local media indicated that the students were arrested following the investigation. The case has raised questions about initiation practices and the boundaries between fraternity traditions and criminal conduct.

University Condemns Hazing

Texas State University said it does not tolerate hazing by any group or individual affiliated with the institution.

In a statement, the university emphasized that participation in hazing activities violates both state law and university policy, even when participants claim to have consented.

The university declined to discuss potential disciplinary action against individual students, citing federal privacy laws.

Under the university’s policies, students and organizations involved in hazing may face disciplinary consequences, which can include probation or expulsion.

Fraternity Says It Is Cooperating With Investigation

Phi Delta Theta’s national organization confirmed that it was aware of an incident involving students affiliated with its Texas Mu chapter at Texas State University.

The organization said it was gathering information and cooperating with university officials and local law enforcement.

It also stressed that it does not support or condone behavior that jeopardizes the safety of fraternity members or others in the community.

The investigation comes amid increased scrutiny of hazing practices at colleges across the United States, where initiation rituals have repeatedly prompted concerns about student safety and accountability.

Hazing has been illegal in Texas since 1987. State law prohibits certain activities connected to joining or maintaining membership in student organizations when those activities involve conduct that humiliates, abuses, endangers or harms participants.

A “Tradition” Under Investigation

What the four students described as a fraternity tradition is now the subject of a criminal investigation.

Police have not publicly identified the victim, and no further details about the alleged initiation ritual have been confirmed. The case remains pending as authorities and university officials review the circumstances.

The incident serves as a reminder that labeling an activity a tradition does not exempt participants from the law. For the four students, a late-night incident outside campus housing could now carry consequences that extend well beyond fraternity membership.

Source: New York Post