Police official says more arrests pending
By Jake Palmateer
Staff Writer
ONEONTA — A former member of the Hartwick College men’s lacrosse team was arrested Wednesday on hazing and other charges.
The arrest comes 3½ weeks after a 19-year-old freshman reported to police that upperclassmen forced rookie players to strip naked and drink a keg of beer during a party at 63 Spruce St.
Lt. Joseph Redmond of the Oneonta Police Department said Wednesday that during the hazing, older players threatened to sodomize the younger players if they didn’t drink.
[an error occurred while processing this directive]Hartwick College suspended the program for a week and then meted out group and individual punishments that included suspensions from the college, suspensions from the team and individual game suspensions.
Michael Rebarchik, 21, of Horseheads, was charged with first-degree unlawfully dealing with a child, a misdemeanor. The Hartwick senior was also charged with second-degree hazing and second-degree harassment, both violations.
Redmond said that between seven and 12 freshmen may have been involved in the hazing allegedly perpetrated by upperclassmen on the team.
"It is alleged they duct-taped their hands together and told them to drink," Redmond said.
Redmond said more arrests are pending.
He said that the students had two hours to drink the half keg at a Sunday afternoon party at the home of other lacrosse players. A half keg typically holds 160 12-ounce cups of beer.
Redmond said the second-degree hazing charge was lodged because of the alleged forced alcohol consumption and the inherent dangers in drinking large quantities of alcohol in a short period of time.
Under New York state penal law, a person is guilty of second-degree hazing when, in the course of another person’s initiation or affiliation with any organization, he or she intentionally or recklessly engages in conduct that creates a substantial risk of physical injury.
During the alleged hazing incident, Rebarchik grabbed one of the rookie players by the neck, Redmond said.
That action resulted in the second-degree harassment charge, he explained.
The first-degree unlawfully dealing with a child charge is the most serious of the three. The class A misdemeanor is punishable upon conviction by up to one year in jail and was lodged because Rebarchik aprovided the alcohol, Redmond said.
The violations are punishable upon conviction by fines or a maximum jail term of 15 days.
Hartwick College spokesman Francis Borrego said that because of federal privacy laws, the college could not comment on individual cases.
"The college completed its own investigation and in accordance with the college’s judicial process imposed sanctions on individuals involved," Borrego said. "The college is cooperating as appropriate with local authorities in their investigation."
Fifteen players were individually sanctioned by the college, while the rest of the team was punished collectively.
Three students found by the college to have played key roles in the hazing were suspended from the college or withdrew on their own. College officials have not identified any of the students who were individually punished.
Four seniors who were on the team last year — Tom Dachille, Dan Garcia, Mike Vasile and Rebarchik — are not on the lacrosse team roster this year.
Mike Debrossy, who was selected by Inside Lacrosse magazine and website as a preseason All-American the week before the hazing incident, is one of three seniors still on the team.
He is joined by Pat Hanley and Matt Smith as the seniors still on the roster.
City court officials said they could not release information on the case until Rebarchik is arraigned.
Rebarchik was released on an appearance ticket after posting $100 bail and Redmond said the student would likely not appear in court until after March 22.
Redmond said Rebarchik continues to attend the college.
Rebarchik did not return a message left on his voice mail Wednesday.
