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Ex–Marion County Firefighters Plead Not Guilty in Alleged Hazing Case, Waive Arraignment

County leaders have pledged reforms following firings across the department.

Overview

  • Court records show the four former employees entered not guilty pleas and waived personal appearances for arraignments scheduled Tuesday.
  • Prosecutors charged Tate Trauthwein, Edward Kenny III, and Seth Day with kidnapping, battery, and robbery, while Kaylee Bradley faces robbery and accessory to robbery.
  • Investigators say coworkers restrained a 19-year-old rookie, struck him with a belt, and waterboarded him as they demanded his phone passcode to view a social media video.
  • Marion County Fire Rescue fired the four after the Nov. 26 arrests and later dismissed six additional employees, including supervisory staff on duty, bringing total terminations to ten.
  • Interviews describe rough housing as common at Station 21, a short clip of the episode was reportedly recorded, and officials publicly condemned the conduct and promised stronger safeguards.