Student's fall alcohol-related

The death of a University student, who fell from a sixth-floor downtown apartment window, was the result of a combination of horseplay and alcohol, State College Police Chief Tom King said yesterday.

University junior Leigh Anne Prevatte, 20, fell from an open apartment window around 2:30 a.m. Sunday morning while attending a party at 611 Alexander Court, 309 E. Beaver Ave.

Although lab results determining the victim's blood alcohol level will not be available for about 10 days, witnesses at the party told investigators that the victim was drinking, King said.

"We believe it's an unfortunate situation of alcohol abuse that lead to the death of a young person," King said.

Centre County Coroner Rich Kelley ruled the death accidental.

State College detectives were issued a search warrant by District Justice Ronald Horner for 611 Alexander Court on Sunday. During the ensuing search, a half keg of beer and tap system, a near-empty gallon bottle of gin and a marijuana pipe with suspected marijuana residue were seized, along with a few other miscellaneous items, King said.

As a result of witness accounts and the search, one to three residents of 611 Alexander Court may face criminal charges related to furnishing alcohol to minors, King said.

"We are going to review the information we have this week with the Centre County district attorney to discuss the possibility of furnishing alcohol to minors charges for the party that was occurring at the apartment," King said.

Furnishing alcohol to minors is a third-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to one year of incarceration and fines ranging between $1,000 and $2,500, said Centre County District Attorney Ray Gricar.

Until Gricar reviews the case and files charges, the names and residences of those suspected will not be released.

Of the three persons who may be charged, one is 21 years old and two are 20, King said.

Rob Miller, a resident of 611 Alexander Court, said he and one of his roommates, Wayne Stephens, were not at the party Saturday night. The other three residents of the apartment -- Jeff Taylor, Matt Hobbie, and Jason Bakes -- were there, Miller said. Miller did not want to comment further.

During his career with the State College Police Department, King said he has seen other alcohol-related falls from State College buildings that resulted in deaths.

King also said he fully agrees with University President Graham Spanier that alcohol is a big problem facing university communities nationwide.

"I think there continues to be a serious problem in the area with alcohol abuse," King said. "People are setting out to see how drunk they can get and what we see as a result of that is a lot of unfortunate situations."

The State College police will continue to encourage all officers to make arrests in any alcohol-related violations they encounter, King said, including possession of alcohol by minors, furnishing alcohol to minors or driving under the influence. The DUI charges will continue to be enforced, whether in the case of the .10 blood alcohol level for those over 21, or under a new law that makes a .02 percent level a DUI offense for those under 21.

"In the end, though, most of the responsibility for safety will lie with the students," King said.

Funeral services for Prevatte will be held at 7:30 tonight at St. Anne's Episcopal Church in Trexlertown.