Former FSU fraternity member jailed for “Scumbag of the Week” punch

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) - A former FSU fraternity member is now serving a 30-day jail sentence for a potent punch that left a fraternity brother with a fractured skull and permanent brain damage.

26-year-old Oliver Walker reported to jail last week to begin serving that sentence, according to the Leon County Sheriff’s Office website.

Walker was arrested back in 2018 after Nicholas Mauricio was injured during an Alpha Epsilon Pi ritual called “Scumbag of the Week.” Court records show Mauricio was ordered to stand before the group as he was struck in the face. He fell backward and hit his head, causing a life-changing traumatic brain injury.

Court records show Walker was sentenced last week to 30 days in jail, followed by one year on probation and 200 hours of community service, which will include providing hazing awareness education.

“While 30 days in jail may not seem like much, I am grateful that Judge Richardson recognized the severity of Walker’s actions. My family and I are pleased that Walker will now have to speak about what happened and if sharing our story prevents one person from experiencing what I did, then some good can come from this,” Mauricio said.

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Mauricio’s attorney David Bianchi, who also represented Andrew Coffey’s family in a deadly hazing case at a different FSU fraternity, said Mauricio was forced to drop out of school and move out of state to get the medical care he needs.

“The resolution of the criminal case,” Bianchi said, “has been a long time coming but will hopefully send a message to all fraternity members that you cannot perpetuate dangerous and juvenile traditions where people get seriously hurt and get away with it. These injuries will impact Nick for the rest of his life and the criminal consequences will follow Oliver Walker for the rest of his life.”

Walker’s attorney, Joe Bodiford, had no comment on the plea and sentence.

In an interview with WCTV Tuesday, Michael Levine, an attorney for Mauricio with the law firm Stewart Tilghman Fox Bianchi & Cain, said there are no winners in this case.

“Nick’s going to live with his injuries for the rest of his life,” Levine said. “And 30 days in jail doesn’t seem to meet the moment of what Nick is enduring, but at the same time, we recognize that that’s the court’s decision. We respect the court’s decision, we respect the criminal justice system.”

A separate civil suit the Mauricio family filed against the fraternity and several of its members was settled back in 2019. Its terms were not disclosed.

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