A judge on Friday dismissed some of the most serious charges against the Penn State fraternity brothers indicted in the February death of Timothy Piazza. Magisterial District Judge Allen Sinclair dropped charges of involuntary manslaughter and aggravated assault against eight members of Beta Theta Pi.

Of the 18 members initially indicted, 14 still face charges after Sinclair's ruling. The remaining charges include misdemeanors: hazing, reckless endangerment and furnishing alcohol.

Piazza, 19, died after a hazing ritual known as "the gauntlet" that involving consuming excessive quantities of alcohol. Surveillance video from the fraternity house that night revealed Piazza had fallen down the stairs more than once and was unconscious. Fraternity brothers allegedly did not call for help for more than 12 hours, instead opting to slap Piazza and pour liquid on him in an attempt to rouse him.

Centre County District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller said Sinclair's decision was "disappointing" and an "error of law." The district attorney's office plans to refile charges, according to WPSU, a PBS station owned by Penn State University.

"This is how we do it," Parks Miller said following the ruling, according to NPR. "We get a second shot, and we're absolutely going to take it."

Defense attorneys for the fraternity brothers argued Piazza had attended the fraternity house that night of his own volition and knew he would be drinking that night. They also said the members did not intend to cause Piazza's death that night and didn't know the alcohol consumption could turn deadly or fully understand how serious the injuries were.

The preliminary hearing revealed text messages from some of the fraternity brothers following the night of hazing.

"I don't want to go to jail for this," one member allegedly texted his girlfriend.

"Drink hazing can send me to jail," another allegedly wrote. "I think we are f*****."

Some of the brothers also allegedly discussed "getting rid of any evidence of alcohol" from the basement and ensuring that the pledges "keep quiet about last night."

Twelve of the brothers were set to stand trial for the remaining charges, which could land them in jail for years, according to Piazza family attorney Tom Kline.

"A judge saw fit to hold all of these men over for trial and that is a significant step forward in this process," Kline said.

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