OSU football players, former player indicted in alcohol-related dorm death.

Byline: Bob Rodman The Register-Guard

CORVALLIS - Two Oregon State University football players and a former player who left the program last month have been indicted by a Benton County grand jury in connection with the alcohol-related death of an 18-year-old Joseph man in an OSU dormitory on Sept. 3.

The three indictments, released on Monday by Benton County District Attorney Scott Heiser, charge J.C. Ronnfeldt, Mike Marks and Gregg Peat with furnishing alcohol to a minor.

Ronnfeldt, a 6-foot-4, 342-pound junior offensive lineman from Federal Way, Wash., was charged with four counts of furnishing alcohol to Lance Strickland, who was found dead in an unoccupied Oregon State dormitory room over Labor Day weekend. He died from complications related to alcohol poisoning.

Heiser reported Strickland's blood alcohol content was 0.43 percent, five times the legal limit. The level at which an individual cannot legally drive is .08. The level at which the blood alcohol content is usually considered fatal is .55.

Ronnfeldt, 21, also was charged with furnishing alcohol to Clay Hayward, who is not a football player, as well as to Marks and Peat, all underage.

Marks, 18, a 6-4, 295-pound freshman offensive lineman from Imnaha, and Peat, 18, a 6-3, 298-pound freshman offensive lineman from Mission Viejo, Calif., were each charged with two counts of furnishing alcohol to Strickland and Hayward.

Furnishing alcohol to a minor is a Class A misdemeanor, carrying a maximum possible penalty of one year in jail and a fine of $6,350 for each count.

Ronnfeldt and Marks were scheduled to be arraigned on Monday. Peat was scheduled for arraignment today.

Heiser's announcement of the indictments, which followed the testimony of 16 witnesses, noted that Strickland "consumed a large volume of whisky at the Finley Hall dormitory."

The tragedy follows an offseason of assaults and drunken driving that have resulted in jail time, game suspensions and other disciplinary action as well as less than favorable public relations for the OSU football program.

"I don't have to address that," OSU coach Mike Riley said. "I can just tell you what has happened to our players and that we are dealing with it."

Last April, sophomore defensive lineman Joe Rudulph pleaded guilty to assaulting an Oregon National Guardsman on leave from Iraq. He was sentenced to 10 days in jail.

In March, defensive lineman Ben Siegert was arrested for driving while intoxicated after allegedly speeding with a 200-pound ram sheep in the back of his pickup.

Siegert pleaded no contest, and was ordered to complete alcohol treatment, pay court fees and appear before a victims' impact panel.

And two players - running back Jimtavis Walker and long snapper Star Paddock - were arrested Feb. 11 for assaulting a taxi driver and offering to pay a $20 fare with marijuana.

"I repeat the message many times that one bad decision can mess you up through all of your life," Riley said. "But sometimes people just have to learn the hard way."

Ronnfeldt left the team shortly after Strickland's death, though he is enrolled and remains on scholarship, Riley said.

"We talked, not knowing what was going to happen but knowing he was going to be questioned, and we mutually agreed that he not be on the team," Riley said.

Under the guidelines of Oregon State's revised student conduct code, Marks and Peat would be suspended from at least one game, but because they are redshirting this year, Riley said, "they will participate in an alcohol awareness program and do something regarding community service." Redshirts practice with their team but do not play in games.

Marks and Peat remain on scholarship and continue to practice.

Riley said that since Strickland's death, two other OSU football players were involved in an alcohol-related incident and have been dismissed from the team. He did not name them because of privacy issues. The two remain in school, Riley said, and could return to the team. "But they have a lot to go through to get back."

"We told the team immediately after (the death of Strickland) that anybody involved with an incident in which they were charged with anything that had to do with alcohol or drugs, they would be dismissed," Riley said.

Strickland was not a student at Oregon State. He was visiting friends, including Marks, before OSU's season-opening win over Portland State on Sept. 3.

Luanne Lawrence, vice president for university advancement for Oregon State, said the college community is "still in shock that something like this could happen.

"But it is pretty clear in the report that this was an isolated incident, that there were other activities going on and no alcohol was involved" in the other activities, she said.

Riley said security at the dormitory has been reviewed.

"During fall camp, we have a full-time security person there and three coaches stay in the dorm," he said.

"Once camp is over, one coach remains except when the team is either traveling or in a nearby hotel the night before a home game. Once classes begin, there is an RA (resident advisor)."

"It was a tragic thing that happened. Along with handling the discipline, we made sure to get some professional people (grief specialists) to visit with the players involved."