STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (WTAJ) — Two former Beta Theta Pi brothers involved in the Penn State fraternity hazing case have had their sentences reduced.
Joshua Kurczewski and Michael Bonatucci were originally sentenced to jail time, but that sentence has been reduced to house arrest because they can be monitored in Pennsylvania.
Joshua Kurczewski was originally sentenced to 3 to 9 months in jail. He was resentenced to 1 year and 9 months probation and 90 days house arrest. His lawyers said there was a misunderstanding of Kurczewski’s home address on the court paperwork, which said he lived in Ohio, where he’s going to school. His home is in Erie, Pa., which makes him eligible for house arrest.
The other brother resentenced was Michael Bonatucci. He was sentenced to 30 days to 6 months in jail, but will now serve 2 years and 6 months probation, and 30 days house arrest.
Bonatucci is from Georgia and he was originally ruled not eligible for house arrest, but an agreement was made for Bonatucci to serve in-home detention. According to court paperwork, his lawyer was asking for different options to be considered, allowing Bonatucci to serve house arrest time in Pa. with the parents of another brother, Joseph Sala, or with Bonatucci’s civil attorneys.
Another option suggested was to have a third party monitor Bonatucci on house arrest from his Georgia residence.
Luke Visser, from California, filed to have his 2 to 6-month jail sentence modified.
There’s no word on a resentencing date for Visser. In looking for a modified sentence, Visser’s lawyer asked that house arrested be granted to Visser from his California house, where a someone could monitor him.
Visser’s lawyer also offered to have him move to Pennsylvania to avoid jail time, but Visser had suffered a serious injury while playing lacrosse for Loyola Marymount University, requiring surgery and medical care, making it impossible for him to travel at the time.
Visser is set to begin his time in jail on May 17.