A USM hockey player convicted of second degree manslaughter in 2005 was charged with violating probation on Friday in Stamford, Conn. as a result of an alcohol-related summons issued in Westbrook in March.
Brett Kapteina, 25, was arraigned Friday in state Superior Court in Stamford and could face prison time because of the technical probation violation.
Kapteina pleaded guilty to second degree manslaughter and was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2005 for his role in a drunk driving accident in Connecticut, killing Jason Lorenti. He served 21 months before being released in 2007 to begin a five year probation sentence.
Kapteina played in 11 games this past hockey season, scoring two goals. His best season with the Huskies was the 2004-2005 season when he scored six goals along with seven assists. He has no remaining college eligibility for athletics, so he will not be able to play hockey next year regardless.
Kapteina and three other USM hockey players were charged with furnishing a place for minors to consume alcohol at their apartment in Westbrook on March 13.
His attorney, Stephan Seeger, said case law in Conn. allows probation to be revoked based on an arrest without a conviction. Seeger said people who violate probation and still have unserved prison time could end up serving some of that time.
“The saddest part of all this is you resurrect the old issues,” said Seeger. “There’s families involved.” The Stamford Advocate reported that Kapteina and Lorenti were friends.
Seeger said he didn’t know when the summons for furnishing a place for minors to consume alcohol would be resolved. “I’m anticipating it won’t be much longer,” he said. “We want to resolve the issue in the most dignified and expeditious way as possible.”
Kapteina is due back in state Superior Court in Stamford on May 4 for the violating probation charge. Seeger said the court will decide how Kapteina violated probation and whether he’ll see probation or if he’ll serve time in prison.