Wesleyan Student Lawyers: Don't Rush to Judgment on Drug Charges
11 people were hospitalized after overdosing on drugs at Wesleyan University.
— -- Lawyers for two of the Wesleyan University students arrested on drug charges after a rash of overdoses say they intend to plead not guilty and have asked the public not judge their clients before all the facts are out.
Wesleyan students Eric Lonergan, 21, Andrew Olson, 20, Zachary Kramer, 21, and Rama Agha Al Nakib, 20, were arrested Tuesday on various drug charges.
Lonergan's attorney, Jason Donovan, said his client intends to plead not guilty.
“[There was] no allegation that he sold any of these substances that created the serious situation with these students," Donovan said.
Jennifer Zito, the attorney for Kramer, said her client also intends to plead not guilty.
“There was no MDMA found in his possession. He was unfortunately caught up in a dragnet sweep,” said Zito. “I’m asking the public not to prejudge until the facts are in.”
Lonergan, Kramer and Al Nakib appeared in Middletown Superior Court in Connecticut today for their arraignment hearings, according to the Middletown Police. They did not enter pleas, a court official said, but they were released on bond -- $50,000 each for Lonergan and Al Nakib, and $5,000 for Kramer. A fourth student, Andrew Olson, 20, posted $175,000 bond on Tuesday, according to The Associated Press. The students are due back in court March 3.
The Middletown Superior Court clerk did not know who was legally representing Olson or Al Nakib, and Olson did not respond to an email to his student account.
All four students have been suspended by Wesleyan pending a formal hearing.
Over the weekend, 11 people were hospitalized because of suspected overdoses related to the drug MDMA, also known as "Molly."
Middletown Police Chief William McKenna told reporters Tuesday that the doses that caused the hospitalizations likely "had a mixture of designer drug chemicals."
Wesleyan University President Michael Roth said in a statement the university takes drug use seriously and is cooperating with authorities.
"We will do everything we can to make our community as safe as possible," Roth said.
He added that the hospitalized students had improved.
“I am pleased to report that the two students who remain at Hartford Hospital have made progress,” Roth said in a statement. “We continue to be hopeful about their recovery, and we ask you to keep them in your thoughts and prayers.”
Lonergan faces charges of possession of a controlled substance and 16 counts of illegal obtaining or supplying of drugs, police said. Olson faces a charge of sale of a hallucinogen, two counts of possession of hallucinogen and marijuana possession charges. Kramer faces charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a regulated substance and possession of marijuana less than 1/2 ounce. Al Nakib faces three counts of possession of a controlled substance, as well as possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell and possession of drug paraphernalia.
ABC News’ Sydney Lupkin and Dean Schabner contributed to this report.