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MILWAUKEE (AP) — An international fraternity said Tuesday that it revoked the membership of the president of its University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee chapter amid a campus police investigation into whether local fraternity members slipped "date rape" drugs into party drinks.
Thomas Kreinbring, 28, president of Tau Kappa Epsilon, or TKE, at UWM, was charged Friday with several drug-related crimes, including keeping a drug house and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.
Kreinbring made his first court appearance Tuesday and was ordered to have no contact with any TKE members or addresses associated with the fraternity, the Journal Sentinel (http://bit.ly/1sn3vl4) reported. He is free on a signature bond and due back in court Oct. 4 for a preliminary hearing.
Kreinbring is accused of possessing marijuana and the prescription drug Adderall but not of spiking any party drinks with drugs, according to the complaint.
His attorney, Daniel Adams, issued a statement calling media coverage of the case "irresponsible."
"My client has been charged with three mundane drug-related offenses that he will be contesting," Adams said. "Rather than rush to judgment, the media should allow the criminal justice system to run its course and stop repeating unfounded rumors."
The charges against Kreinbring came after police searched the fraternity house as part of their investigation into a Sept. 12 party at the fraternity that left several people severely intoxicated and with memory lapses. Officers found three bags of marijuana, drug paraphernalia and prescription pills, the complaint said.
"The international Fraternity began an immediate investigation and the president of our Fraternity had his membership revoked," Tau Kappa Epsilon said in a statement released Tuesday.
The international organization also suspected the UWM chapter while the investigation is ongoing. UWM also has suspended the fraternity's affiliation with the university for at least as long as it takes for police to conduct their investigation.
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Information from: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, http://www.jsonline.com
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