Hazing Suspect's Family Speaks Out

The family of an Arkansas Tech student arrested in connection with a severe beating of a fellow student is speaking out. Deonte Bradley's relatives say, despite the accusations, he's not a bad guy.
   
Tuesday Bradley was arrested, accused of participating in a hazing incident that put fellow ATU student and football player Deshawn Scoggins in the hospital. The suspect's family says he would never hurt Scoggins so badly on purpose because they were more than potential fraternity brothers, they're family.

"Everything I've seen, they have made my brother out to be a bad person," Sakonia Jones said, standing outside the Pope County Detention Center, defending her brother.

Deonte Bradley is one of four men accused of  beating  Scoggins in April. Friends and family prayed for Scoggins recovery for weeks while he stayed in the hospital in a medically induced coma with kidney damage.

Bradley's mom says, Deonte was right there with him.

"He called and told him he was at the hospital and my son went to the hospital and sat with him all night," said Sonya Walton.

But now, Bradley is facing felony charges for his role in the beating. 

Jones said, "I wasn't there, but me knowing my brother, I know he wouldn't have let this happen."

In the warrant, Bradley is accused of orchestrating the beating and driving Scoggins to a home where we was beaten with wooden canes and paddles as part of an initiation process to become a member of the fraternity Kappa Alpha Psi.

In the police report Scoggins said Bradley kept telling him he loved him, which hs family says is true.

"Shawn has stayed with him, made sure he had clothes on his back," added Jones.

Now, they worry about the future of their relationship and their lives.

Scoggins is out of the hospital continuing to recover at home.  Deonte Bradley bonded out of jail Thursday evening. He is due in court September  24th.