8 members of Penn State frat due in court in pledge's death

The former Penn State Beta Theta Pi currently sits empty on Burrowes Road after being shut down. A Penn State fraternity pledge died after stumbling and falling several times with toxic levels of alcohol in his body and suffered for hours with severe injuries while his friends failed to summon help, authorities said Friday, May 5, 2017, in announcing criminal charges against the fraternity and 18 of its members.(Abby Drey/Centre Daily Times via AP) (The Associated Press)

BELLEFONTE, Pa. – Eight members of a Penn State University fraternity are expected to appear before a judge to face charges that stem from the death of a pledge after an alcohol hazing ritual.

A Pennsylvania judge is expected to arraign the defendants on Tuesday and set bail. Ten other defendants also await trial after being arraigned on Friday and released on unsecured bail.

The members of Beta Theta Pi face a range of charges. The eight scheduled for court are charged with comparatively less serious allegations.

Five of them are accused of evidence tampering, and one faces a charge of reckless endangerment.

All charges relate to the February death of sophomore Timothy Piazza, of Lebanon, New Jersey. He died after falling and hitting his head several times after a pledge acceptance ceremony.