State College Police filed charges Thursday against 14 people in connection with the Oct. 25 riot following Penn State's win against Ohio State.
Penn State student Robert T. Cook, 21, 127 Keller St., and three visitors, Shane T. Elie, 18, of Olney, Md.; Will R. Forester, 19, of Pittsburgh; and Luke Haden, 20, 340 E. Beaver Ave., were charged with riot, a third-degree felony, in connection with the destructive celebrations following the football team's win, police said.
According to police, Cook was identified in a photograph participating in the riot and damaging a street light.
Elie, a University of Maryland student, climbed a street light pole and was hanging from it when police sprayed him with pepper spray, police said.
Forester, a West Virginia University student, tried to light a large shrub on fire, police said.
Haden, a non-student, climbed a light pole and attempted to break the light fixture attached to it, police said. Haden also tried to tear down a parking sign, police said.
Penn State spokeswoman Annemarie Mountz said the students charged in connection with the riot could face "severe" punishment from the university, depending on the crime's severity.
"It's safe to say those who may be facing the most serious criminal charges may also be facing an end to their relationship with the university," she said.
State College Police Capt. Dana Leonard said this is the first round of arrests and does not necessarily include the most serious charges to be filed. Police expect more arrests in the coming weeks, Leonard said.
"I'm sorry to say this is the fourth time we've had to do this type of investigation ... in Beaver Canyon since 1998," Leonard said, referring to past Arts Festival riots.
Those charged with misdemeanors include Penn State students Robert K. Gurgiolo, of Wexford; John R. Mahoney, 321 Fraternity Row; Ryan McCabe, 805 Stratford Dr.; Brian M. Patterson, of Downington; Justin C. Rajan, of Downington; and Mitchell Leo Stutz, 914 S. Allen St., police said.
Stutz (sophomore-biobehavioral health) said he was walking home when a police officer stopped him, took his student ID+ card and said he saw him tear down a light post. Stutz said he was not near the light post and was not doing anything destructive.
He said police called him earlier this week to interview him and told him they have evidence of him being destructive.
"They gave me a chance to turn myself in, but I'm not going to plead guilty to anything except the fact that I was there," he said.
Penn State student and Daily Collegian photographer Michael R. Felletter, 2092 Mary Ellen Lane, who was on assignment during the riot, is also facing two misdemeanor charges in connection with the riot, police said.
Non-student David R. Glicini, 328 E. Foster Ave., also faces a misdemeanor charge, police said.
Two other Penn State students are facing summary criminal mischief charges in connection with the incident, police said.
Police have been getting a "significant response from the public" in volunteering videos and photographs to help identify participants in the riot, Leonard said. State College Police posted photographs online of those they say participated in the riot and asked the public to identify those pictured.
Judicial Affairs will investigate each student's case to determine if the student violated university policy or the student code of conduct, and "based on the findings, the appropriate sanctions will be handed down," Mountz said.
"It's a very serious situation," Mountz said. "And I think other students should pay attention to what's going on now and the jeopardy that some students have placed their academic careers in by their behavior that night."
