Two University of Wisconsin-Stout hockey players were charged Monday in the death of a fellow UW-Stout student.
Jedidiah McGlasson, 21, and Jared Britton, 23, were both charged with party to felony murder in the death and battery of Bradley Simon, 22, who died Thursday of severe head injuries sustained in a bicycle crash. Once it is determined whether McGlasson or Britton killed Simon, the charge will change to felony murder for that individual.
If convicted, McGlasson and Britton could face up to 21 years in prison.
University of Wisconsin Law Professor David Schultz said when defendants are charged in Wisconsin, everyone involved in the alleged battery is considered “party to a crime” of felony murder.
According to the criminal complaint filed in Dunn County, a comment about Britton not wearing a shirt underneath his zip-up sweatshirt resulted in an altercation at the Log Jam Bar in Menomonie Sept. 18.
Witnesses said after Simon’s drink was slapped out of his hand he exited the bar through the back door to avoid hockey players who were in the front.
Joseph Kuehn, the Log Jam bouncer who was working on the night of the incident, said he kicked out a freshman hockey player involved in the altercation, which resulted in several other individuals leaving the bar.
Kuehn said he then looked for Simon to instruct him to wait inside for at least five minutes, but could not find him.
Kuehn said he observed Simon riding away on his bicycle and Britton chasing after him on foot. Britton eventually caught up to Simon and pushed him “very hard,” according to Kuehn.
However, according to a statement Britton made to the police it was actually McGlasson who pushed Simon.
According to the complaint, Simon’s front tire struck a concrete retaining wall, lifting Simon off his bike and causing him to hit the wall head-first.
Simon died five days later from head trauma.
According to Doug Mell, UW-Stout spokesperson, the university’s main concern right now is to help Simon’s family and friends.
“Bradley was a senior here, he’s touched a lot of lives on the UW-Stout campus,” Mell said. “We want to make sure that the students, faculty and staff that came into contact with him during his time here have whatever support they need.”
