SWEETWATER, FLA. (WSVN) - A United States Secret Service employee appeared in bond court in connection to an alleged fraternity hazing ritual that led to three arrests in Sweetwater, as new details about the crime continue to surface.
Marquez Christopher Pinder stood before Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Mindy S. Glazer, Monday morning.
The 29-year-old is one of three men apprehended in the alleged fraternity hazing incident.
The other two suspects were identified as Jared James and Elijah Dyous.
Pinder has since been placed on leave from the Secret Service. He is being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in West Miami-Dade.
According to prosecutors, the case involved two victims. One is a University of Miami law student who required surgery after suffering kidney damage, and the other victim was a Miami-Dade Fire Rescue employee who was also injured and needed critical medical care.
Prosecutors said the two victims were hit with paddles and canes at an off-campus apartment as part of a Kappa Alpha PSI fraternity initiation over a series of days.
Investigators said in one instance, the two male victims failed to answer questions about the fraternity’s history and were instructed to do a half squat with one arm pointed forward. That’s when the arrest report says the victims were “struck repeatedly”…”on their buttocks.”
The abuse happened in sessions that lasted for hours, according to prosecutors.
But it got more intense, according to the arrest report, at a home on Southwest 183rd Street and 102nd Place where the victims were severely beaten, causing them to bleed through their clothes. The report states the “source of blood was from lacerations.”
Officials say the injuries could’ve been fatal without immediate treatment.
In court Monday, Glazer ordered Pinder to stay away from the alleged victims.
“No contact with these victims, alleged victims — either directly, indirectly, in person, in writing, by telephone, or through third parties,” said Glazer. “Stay at least 500 feet away from their home, school and place of employment at all times. Do you understand the stay away order, sir?”
“Yes, ma’am,” said Pinder.
Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez-Rundle released a statement on the incident that reads in part:
“In Florida, hazing is abuse and it is a crime. Its victims too often lie in their graves and in hospital beds.”
In a subsequent news conference focused on anti-human trafficking efforts, Fernandez-Rundle reiterated that hazing is illegal in Florida.
“Hazing in Florida is a crime, it’s illegal,” she said.
In a statement, the Secret Service wrote:
“The United States Secret Service takes seriously any criminal misconduct allegations involving one of our employees.”
The University of Miami also weighed in saying:
“The incident have no ties to the University except that the student is currently enrolled as a law student there.”
This isn’t the first time that a Secret Service employee has gotten in trouble with the law. Back in May, 33-year-old John Spillman, a Secret Service officer, was arrested near Miami International Airport for allegedly exposing himself and masturbating in front of hotel guests.
Body camera footage captured his arrest. He has since been placed on administrative leave after the arrest by his employer.
As for these three suspects in the alleged hazing case, they have been charged with attempted manslaughter, aggravated battery and hazing. Pinder was granted a $75,000 bond.
Pinder and James remain behind bars as of early Tuesday morning.