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A U.S. Secret Service agent and two other people have been charged in connection with alleged college hazing incidents in the Miami area that authorities say involved "repeated beatings with canes and paddles" that left two victims hospitalized with severe injuries.The Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office announced the arrests of Marquez Christopher Pinder, 29, Jared Lamar James, 26, and Elijah Delano Dyous, 29, on July 26. Prosecutors said the three men were each charged with attempted manslaughter with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon causing great bodily harm, and hazing with a deadly weapon.Court records obtained by the USA TODAY Network - Florida show that Pinder, a South Florida-based Secret Service agent, was arrested July 26 on allegations that he took part in hazing a University of Miami law student who was attempting to join the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. The two other men charged in the case are not Secret Service agents.In a news release, the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office said the three individuals were arrested after an investigation revealed "evidence of alleged hazing incidents involving prolonged and repeated beatings with canes and paddles." The beatings took place in April over four occasions at an off-campus apartment, the USA TODAY Network - Florida reported, citing court documents.Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said the case illustrates the dangers of fraternity hazing and noted several high-profile hazing deaths that have occurred in Florida over the past two decades.“Among some, fraternity hazing might be seen as a tradition creating a sense of belonging and brotherhood, but since 2001, hazing in Florida has killed Chad Meredith, Robert Champion and Andrew Coffey while seriously injuring others,” Rundle said in a statement."This case, with the victims requiring hospitalization, provide clear-cut examples of hazing’s danger," she added. "In Florida, hazing is abuse and it is a crime. Its victims too often lie in their graves and in hospital beds."Student suffered kidney damage, nearly died after alleged hazing incidentsProsecutors said the alleged beatings were triggered when the victims failed to "correctly answer questions about the fraternity." The hazing incidents began on April 1 at a residence in Sweetwater, Florida, and continued there through April 3 before moving to a residence in unincorporated Miami-Dade County on April 4.An arrest warrant described Pinder as a "dean of pledges" for a Miami chapter of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, according to NBC News and The Associated Press. The USA TODAY Network-Florida reported that Pinder was accused of taking part in paddling a new fraternity member, who suffered kidney damage and nearly died.According to court documents, the victim and a second student, who sustained similar injuries, were allegedly forced to hold a half-squat position with one arm extended while being repeatedly struck with paddles when they failed to correctly answer questions about the fraternity's history.Court records state that the beatings stopped after one of the victims began bleeding through his underwear and pants. The two students were then allegedly instructed to return home and place their clothing in garbage bags.One student began experiencing severe pain, vomiting, and fever before seeking medical treatment. According to court documents, he required extensive skin grafts to his buttocks and was diagnosed with acute kidney failure. Authorities said he could have died had he not received medical care.Secret Service agent placed on administrative leave amid investigationPinder has been placed on administrative leave, and the Secret Service said it is "fully cooperating with the investigation," Michael Townsend, the special agent in charge of the Secret Service’s Miami field office, told NBC News and the AP. The Sun Sentinel reported that he was placed on leave about a month ago.Pinder's attorney, Justin Beckham, declined to share details of the case but told the newspaper that the allegations were "grossly overcharged."The University of Miami said Pinder was not affiliated with the university or the school's undergraduate chapter of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, according to NBC News. The suspects are not current students and do not have the authority to conduct fraternity business or affairs, according to Jimmy McMikle, the fraternity’s national president."Kappa Alpha Psi is a non-hazing fraternity. We neither condone nor tolerate acts of hazing behavior within our organization or from our membership," McMikle said in a statement to the news outlet on July 27.USA TODAY reached out to the Secret Service, the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity and the University of Miami for comment. The USA TODAY Network - Florida has also contacted Beckham for comment.
