Robert Champion's parents unhappy with 6-year sentence in son's FAMU hazing death

ORLANDO, Fla. — The ringleader in the hazing death of a Florida A&M University band member was sentenced Friday.

Dante Martin was sentenced to 77 months in prison on Friday after being convicted in October of manslaughter in the death of Robert Champion.

Champion died in 2011 after participating in a band hazing ritual called "Crossing Bus C."

Martin is the only suspect charged to be sentenced to significant time behind bars.

Some say Martin got off with a light sentence, as he faced a maximum of 22 years.

The state guidelines called for nine years and four months, which is what the state was asking for, but the defense argued that since Champion willingly participated in the hazing ritual, the judge could choose to depart from the guidelines, which is what she did.

A dozen friends, relatives and Martin's employer came to Orlando on Friday to plead for leniency. A law professor who was Martin's frequent customer at a Tallahassee restaurant got emotional.

'What's remarkable about Dante is that he treats everyone with great respect. The governor is there all the time, and he treats the governor the way he treats the dishwasher," customer Valerie Gertz said.

The 27-year-old's mother told the court how upset Martin was over Champion's death.

"He cried all night.  He didn't eat for a few days. He was very devastated," said Maddie Martin.

Martin took the stand, looked the Champions in the eyes and apologized.

"If there was a way, I wish, the pain that you feel, that I could take that away from you and carry that pain for you," Martin told Champion's parents.

Champion's mother, Pamela, told Martin he'll never know her pain.

"My day starts like my night. I wake up with tears. I go to bed with tears," she said.

The Champions and prosecutors said they were disappointed with the six-year sentence.

An autopsy revealed Champion died from soft tissue bleeding causing by the numerous blows he received from the ritual.

"If you do it and something goes wrong, you're going to be responsible for it.  And, I hope that scares people enough to stop it and to realize it's not worth it," said State Attorney Jeff Ashton.

Champion's parents attended the hearing.

"I won't get my son back, but no one wins here," said Pamela Champion.

The case brought into focus the culture of hazing in the band, which was suspended for more than a year while officials tried to clean up the program.

Nine other ex-band members have been sentenced for their role in Champion's death.

Three others await trial.

WFTV