Attorney Of Charged Clemson Student Speaks Out

By Elizabeth Owens/News Channel 7
Published: January 31, 2008

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The attorney for a 19-year-old Clemson student says his client "was in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Jetin Patel is charged with transfer of beer to a person under 21, possession of beer by person under 21 and false information as to age. 10^th Circuit Solicitor Crissy Adams says Ben Sprague went with Patel to a store where Patel used a fake ID to buy beer.

18-year-old Sprague was found dead after a party at Clemson's Sigma Nu fraternity house off campus in December. He died of alcohol poisoning. Patel and two other fraternity brothers face charges.

Monty Desai says his client Jetin Patel is very distraught over his friend's death. "He cries when I talk about it. He doesn't want to talk about," said his attorney.

Desai says Patel is not a wild party boy. He says his client comes from a good family and plans to go to medical school.

Patel is still going to class. Clemson has not announced if they will take disciplinary action against him or the other two students.

His attorney plans to apply for pre-trial intervention as soon as possible.