Former LSU frat member Matthew Naquin who was found guilty of negligent homicide in the 2017 hazing death of Max Gruver is scheduled for sentencing today. Legal analyst Franz Borghardt says Naquin faces up to five years in prison.
“A lot of us are looking at this and anticipating the young man getting some jail time. Whether the judge gives him five years or not remains to be seen but it is unusual to give a first-time offender of this nature the maximum sentence,” said Borghardt.
Two others involved in Gruver’s death that were convicted of misdemeanor crimes received the maximum sentence, which was 30-days in jail.
Borghardt says Judge Beau Higginbotham is known to give reasonable sentences and many were surprised he gave maximum sentences to the two others involved in the case. The judge does have the authority to give Naquin felony probation.
“However, some of the things he said at the sentencing of the young men who were previously sentenced leads me to believe that Naquin is probably going to receive some jail time,” said Borghardt.
Borghardt does not anticipate the judge attempting to send a message about hazing with this sentencing.
“He may make an example out of this young man so as to put the nail in the coffin so to speak but I don’t know if at this point that sending a message is really up in the front of the brain of the judge,” said Borghardt.
Gruver died of alcohol poisoning to following a frat ritual.
