21-Year-Old Gets House Arrest After Frat Fire Injures Five

A 21-year-old man has been sentenced to 18 months of conditional time, including 15 months of house arrest monitored by GPS, after being found responsible for a fraternity party fire that severely injured five women.

Justice Kevin Mc Hugh handed down the sentence to Bryson Donald in a London courtroom on Thursday, following his guilty plea last month for criminal negligence causing bodily harm.

The fire occurred in December at the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity house near Richmond and Cheapside streets, sending five women to the hospital, two of whom had serious burns that required specialized care. A man was treated at the scene for minor injuries.

Donald surrendered to London police on December 4, just two days after the incident. He was charged with one count of criminal negligence causing bodily harm and pleaded guilty last month.

“[Donald’s] prospects for rehabilitation are strong and have to be taken into consideration,” Justice Mc Hugh stated in court. “I must, on the other hand, also consider the circumstances of the victims of the events.”

For three months at the end of his sentence, Donald will have a strict curfew from 11 p. m. to 6 a. m.

He is also prohibited from using any devices that can start fires like lighters or matches, cannot drink alcohol, and can’t contact eight specific individuals listed in his sentencing order.

Sitting in court dressed in a tan blazer and black dress pants, Donald lowered his head into his hands when he heard about these conditions.

Fire Started During ‘Beer Olympics’

According to an agreed statement read by Mc Hugh in court, the fire ignited during a game called “Beer Olympics” when Donald poured 99 percent isopropyl alcohol into a trophy cup that already had a flame lit.

This caused “a fireball and rapidly growing flame,” which caught onto wrapping paper covering both walls and ceilings, Mc Hugh explained.

There were nearly 100 attendees at the party that night. Several social media posts identified Donald as the person who started the fire, prompting authorities to reach out to him.

“He expressed a great deal of sympathy,” Mc Hugh noted.

LISTEN | Doctor explains new procedure that helped woman burned at frat house:

London Morning8:37Breakthrough burn treatment shows remarkable results

Kaitlin Jeffrey, an 18-year-old girl at the party, suffered severe burns on her face and neck. Instead of traditional skin grafts, doctors used a new innovative procedure. Dr. Marc Jeschke discussed this treatment involving exosomes on London Morning.

Donald hails from Fort Erie, Ontario and pleaded guilty on June 26 while addressing his actions before the court. Mc Hugh mentioned he believed Donald’s apology was genuine.

“I fully accept Mr. Donald has learned his lesson that day. He was forthright in how this affected the victims,” Mc Hugh said.

However, he added that hearing victim impact statements from several injured women carries weight as well.

“The events impacted every facet of their lives,” he remarked while noting these women continue facing medical issues along with educational challenges and psychological struggles as well as financial difficulties due to what happened.

If all goes according to plan once Donald’s conditional sentence ends; he will enter an additional probation period lasting for another 18 months where he’ll need to complete 150 hours of community service work while still maintaining restrictions against using any items that could start fires or contacting those named in this order.

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