The Jackson County State’s Attorney said he doesn’t plan to prosecute two SIUC students on felony charges – the decision, though, won’t affect any university sanctions they might face.

State’s Attorney Mike Wepsiec said he decided not to prosecute students Derrick Reese, Jr. and Corey Coakley as well as non-students Michael Ziegler, Jr. and Jovan Lacy on charges of felony robbery, aggravated battery and mob action. The motion not to prosecute was filed earlier this month.

The case stemmed from an on-campus attack in October that resulted in nine students being banned from campus. Some campus groups criticized the University’s punishment, citing problems in the Student Conduct Code.

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Wepsiec said conflicting testimony in the case made it impossible for the state to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Terry Huffman, director of Student Judicial Affairs, said he could not discuss any sanctions SIUC has taken against the students, but he said the University’s justice system requires less proof of guilt than the state’s system.

“We’re simply looking at the student’s behavior and whether that behavior violated our standards stated in the Student Conduct Code,” he said.

Joe Crawford can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 254 or [email protected].