4 SDSU fraternity members charged over alleged skit that resulted in pledge burning

SAN DIEGO (CNS) – Four members of the San Diego State University fraternity pleaded not guilty Monday to criminal charges stemming from a skit that allegedly involved intentionally setting one of the defendants on fire, causing him to suffer third-degree burns.

The defendants, who were active members of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, allegedly hosted a party at the fraternity house on February 17 last year during which they planned to set fire to one of the fraternity’s pledges.

According to the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, the stunt caused burns to approximately 16% of the lienholder’s body, mostly his legs.

All four defendants – Caden Cooper, 22; Lucas Cowling, 20; Christopher Serrano, 20; and Lars Larsen, 19, were arraigned on Monday on charges of recklessly causing a fire causing serious bodily injury, conspiracy to commit an act harmful to the public and violating the social host ordinance.

If convicted on all counts, the defendants face sentences ranging from probation to seven years and two months in state prison.

Prosecutors identified Cooper as the fraternity’s president, Cowling as a pledge board member and Serrano and Larsen as pledgees. Authorities said the alleged skit underlying the case involved Serrano setting Larsen on fire.

According to prosecutors, Larsen, Cooper and Cowling allegedly lied to police, deleted evidence from social media and instructed other fraternity members to do the same.

The fraternity was also on university probation at the time the party was held, but it was unclear why.

Following Monday’s arraignment, all four defendants remain in custody on their own recognizance but must abide by conditions of release, which include no participation in fraternity or fraternity recruiting events.