January 17, 2017
Eight Penn State students were among 11 individuals facing charges for participating in a December riot after the school's football team secured a conference championship, authorities said.
The State College Police Department announced Tuesday that three students were charged with felonies for their actions on Dec. 3 after Penn State knocked off Wisconsin, 38-31, in the Big Ten Championship Game.
Authorities said more than 10,000 people defiantly flooded the streets despite the school's plea to not "spoil the accomplishment" by destroying property in the community if the team won. Pepper spray and mounted officers in riot gear were used to break up the crowd, but numerous street signs and lights were damaged.
Those charged range in age from 18 to 39 and face a total of 21 offenses:
• Eli J. Wood, 19: One felony count of rioting and three misdemeanor counts of criminal mischief, failure to disperse and disorderly conduct.
• Kenneth Anderson, 18: Two misdemeanor counts of failure to disperse and disorderly conduct.
• Sung Joon Roh, 19: One misdemeanor count of failure to disperse.
• Eric K. Zimmerer, 20: Two misdemeanor counts of failure to disperse and disorderly conduct and a summary count of criminal mischief.
• Troy E. Johnson, 39: One misdemeanor count of failure to disperse and a summary count of disorderly conduct.
• Steven N. Clayton, 21: Summary count of disorderly conduct.
• Ryan J. Hampson, 23: Summary count of public drunkenness.
• Nathaniel N. Miller, 22: Summary count of disorderly conduct.
• Jimmy Wang, 21: One felony count of rioting and a misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct.
• Samuel L. Dedian, 21: Summary count of criminal mischief.
• Robert F. Wasileski, 20: One felony count of rioting and two misdemeanor counts of taunting a police horse and failure to disperse.
Only Johnson, Clayton and Hampson were not Penn State students. The rest face further disciplinary action, including expulsion from the university, by the school's Office of Student Conduct.
In October, another riot caused an estimated $30,000 in damages after Penn State's upset victory over Ohio State. Thirteen people were eventually charged in that incident.
State College Police have posted photos from both riots on the department's website and are still attempting to identify individuals.
