Matthew Vlasic, a member of the disbanded chapter of the University of Michigan's Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of malicious destruction of a building of more than $200 but less than $1,000 for his role in the January vandalism of Treetops Resort in Gaylord.
The plea deal, offered by Otsego County Prosecutor Mike Rola, allowed Vlasic to plead guilty to a lesser charge than the one he originally faced -- a felony charge of destruction of a building of more than $1,000 and less than $20,000.
Rola said a plea deal was offered to Vlasic during a pretrial and Vlasic's attorney informed him within the past week he would be accepting the plea deal at today's status conference hearing.
"In circumstances where persons have no prior records, and it's not a violent crime or a sexual crime, it's been my practice to allow them to plead to a misdemeanor with agreement to restitution," Rola said.
"(Vlasic) admitted to doing damage to Treetops, including damage to the ceiling tiles in the hallway and some other damage."
Treetops lawyers and insurance company still are determining the amount of the restitution. Vlasic's sentencing is expected to be in August or September, but no date has been set.
Two other members of SAM also have been charged with misdemeanors for their roles in the vandalism.
Joshua Kaplan, the former president of the fraternity, and Zachary Levin, a former social chairman, were charged with drug and/or alcohol consumption by minors on premises, a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 30 days or by a fine of not more than $1,000, or both.
Each was scheduled to appear in court earlier this month but had their dates postponed until Aug. 13.
Several members of the fraternity also face a civil suit from Treetops. In total, the resort seeks restitution for $230,000 in damages and another $200,000 for lost revenue, attorneys and accounting fees, and rebuilding the "damage to the resort's reputation."
Jeremy Allen is the University of Michigan reporter for The Ann Arbor News. Follow him on twitter at @JeremyAllenA2. Contact him at 810-247-4625 or jallen42@mlive.com.