One man found out last week he won't be allowed to return to state-funded university campuses for two years, and another learned he will spend seven days in jail for his role in the March 28-30 disturbances which caused more than $40,000 in damage.
Daniel Callton, 20, of Nashville, Mich., and Miguel Miranda, 19, of Lansing, were the first of about a dozen people to hear their sentences on felony riot charges. About 20 were sentenced during the summer on misdemeanor charges ranging from indecent exposure to inciting a riot.
Campus bans and restitution for riot-related crimes are the result of stiffened legal consequences mandated in the aftermath of the March 27-28, 1999 riot, which resulted in about $250,000 in damage and 132 arrests, including 71 MSU students.
Ingham County Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings III said the hardened punishments directed at the rioters earlier this year and in 1999 show that unruly behavior won't be tolerated.
"We are talking about a few knuckleheads that have smudged the good name of Michigan State University and every person and student associated with it," Dunnings said.
"This is no joke, and we are not going to tolerate it. You are here to get an education, and you are going to have fun, but there are civil limits to having fun."
Callton, who was banned from campus for rioting, received two years probation, and will pay restitution to the university. He was charged with felony unlawful assembly and misdemeanor malicious destruction of property.
In addition to spending seven days in the county jail, Miranda received three years probation and will pay $6,983 in restitution on felony attempted unlawful assembly and misdemeanor arson and malicious destruction of property charges.
Neither Callton or Miranda could be reached for comment.
"Not only does this not go away, it could very well haunt them for the rest of their lives," said Dunnings, adding that those convicted will be "exiled from public higher education in this state."
Most people sentenced on misdemeanor charges during the summer received jail time, had to pay restitution and were banned from MSU and state-funded university campuses, assistant East Lansing attorney Thomas Yeadon said.
For misdemeanors, jail time ranged from seven to 20 days, campus bans extended as long as one year and individual restitution ranged from about $350 to $3,600 in addition to fines, Yeadon said.
"I'm hoping it sends the right message," Yeadon said. "It is disconcerting that this keeps happening. I think the court felt the frustration, too."
East Lansing officials also said last week that area police agencies have received restitution payments totaling $135,297 from those convicted during the 1999 riots. Restitution checks received recently by policing agencies are being used to reimburse units that assisted East Lansing authorities when more than 10,000 students took to the streets after MSU lost to Duke in the Final Four in 1999.
People found guilty after the 1999 riot were ordered to pay policing costs during the disturbance. Some paid their share in increments of $50 or $100 per month, city officials said.
East Lansing councilmember Beverly Baten said the payments are a reminder of the extensive and continued consequences of rioting.
"I just hope we have intelligent people going to the university that realize it will catch up with them," Baten said. "It is one of the things that is a learning experience for some of them."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
