Salisbury University Students’ Hate Crime and Assault Charges Dismissed
Charges Dismissed for 12 Students
Twelve of the 15 Salisbury University students accused of attacking and beating a man in Maryland because of his sexual orientation had their hate crime and first-degree assault charges dismissed, court records show.
Initial Charges
All 15 students were arrested last month for allegedly punching, kicking, spitting on, and calling a man derogatory names after luring him into an off-campus apartment on October 15 under false pretenses, according to Salisbury police. The students, ages 18 to 21, originally faced several charges including first-degree assault, reckless endangerment, false imprisonment, and associated hate crime charges, police said.
Downgraded Charges
As of Sunday, court records show that 12 of the accused students are only facing a charge of false imprisonment and had their felony first-degree assault charge downgraded to a misdemeanor second-degree assault.
Students Facing Charges
The students facing charges are:
- Riley Brister, 20
- Bennan Aird, 18
- Ryder Baker, 20
- Cruz Cespedes, 19
- Dylan Earp, 20
- Cameron Guy, 18
- Jacob Howard, 19
- Eric Sinclair, 21
- Patrick Gutierrez, 19
- Dylan Pietuszka, 20
- Sean Antone, 19
- Benjamin Brandenburg, 18
Remaining Charges
The remaining charges accusing them of reckless endangerment and committing hate crimes were dropped following preliminary hearings last week.
Prosecutor’s Statement
"We have charged as appropriate" based on reviews of the evidence gathered so far during the course of the investigation, the Wicomico County State’s Attorney’s Office in Maryland said in a statement to NBC News on Sunday. "As this is a pending criminal prosecution, we are unable to comment further at this time."
Defense Attorney’s Statement
Steve Rakow, an attorney for Brister, one of the students, told NBC News in an email, "While still serious charges, this never was a hate crime and certainly was never a felony first-degree assault." Rakow continued, "As of now, my client maintains his innocence. Should the state make a plea offer in this case, we’ll evaluate that and make a decision on whether to accept the plea or go to trial."
Trials Scheduled
A trial for Brister and nine of the other students was scheduled for January 29 at the Wicomico County District Court. Trials for Antone and Pietuszka were set for January 23 and 24, respectively, in the same court.
Other Students’ Cases
Two other students, Zachary Leinemann, 18, and Elijah Johnson, 19, had their cases moved to the Wicomico County Circuit Court. While both of them had their reckless endangerment charges dropped and their assault charge downgraded, they continue to face false imprisonment and hate crime charges, court records show.
Logan Clark’s Case
Logan Clark, 19, is still facing two counts of first-degree assault and another count of second-degree assault, as well as charges of reckless endangerment, false imprisonment, and hate crime, according to court records. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Thursday.
University’s Statement
"At this time, the students facing charges in the alleged incident remain on interim suspension," a spokesperson for Salisbury University told NBC News in a statement Sunday. "Salisbury University continues to monitor these cases as the due process of the law takes its course. We remain committed to maintaining safe and welcoming spaces for our students, our employees, and the greater community."
Conclusion
The dismissal of hate crime and assault charges against 12 Salisbury University students has sparked controversy and raised questions about the severity of the punishment. The remaining students facing charges will continue to undergo the legal process, with trials scheduled for January.
FAQs
Q: What were the original charges against the 15 Salisbury University students?
A: The original charges included first-degree assault, reckless endangerment, false imprisonment, and associated hate crime charges.
Q: How many students had their hate crime and first-degree assault charges dismissed?
A: 12 students had their hate crime and first-degree assault charges dismissed.
Q: What are the remaining charges against the students?
A: The remaining charges include false imprisonment, reckless endangerment, and hate crime charges.
Q: When are the trials scheduled for the students?
A: Trials for Brister and nine other students are scheduled for January 29, while trials for Antone and Pietuszka are set for January 23 and 24, respectively.
