Charges dropped in kidnapping ‘prank’

Outlaw,-Troy.jpg [1]

By NATHAN GREGORY
sdnreporter@yahoo.com [2]

Three Mississippi State University fraternity members who were charged with kidnapping an MSU student March 1 had their charges dismissed in Starkville Municipal Court Thursday by Judge Rodney Faver.

MSU Alpha Phi Alpha members Donovan Carroll, 22, of Canton; Frederick Oglesby, 21, of Hattiesburg; and Corey Skelton, 22, of Kosciusko were freed of all charges stemming from the incident, which Starkville Police Department Lt. Troy Outlaw said was a prank involving the men duct taping the victim’s hands and feet, holding her for ransom, calling her sorority sisters and asking for two bags of Skittles in return for her release.

Outlaw said the victim decided to drop the charges after deciding they were too harsh over a non-serious situation.

“The victim decided that she felt differently about the situation — that it was indeed a prank — and she felt the kidnapping charges were too severe for a prank,” Outlaw said. “She had a change of heart and felt it would be detrimental to their careers and felt they had been punished enough.”

No further charges are pending against the individuals.