A former University of Kentucky student pleaded guilty Monday to assault and other charges in a racially charged attack on a black student that was caught on video.
Sophia Rosing23, pleaded guilty to four counts of fourth-degree assault, one count of disorderly conduct and public intoxication, Lexington Herald-Leader reported.
Lexington-Fayette Urban County Division of Community Corrections
Rosing, who is white, attacked a black student in 2022 while she was working in a campus residence. Rosing was arrested the night of the assault and was later expelled from school and banned from campus by the university president.
Rosing had been earlier indicted by a grand jury on six counts, including assault and public intoxication, CBS affiliate WKYT reported.
Rosing faces up to 1 year in prison and 100 hours of community service, according to Peters. She is scheduled to be sentenced on October 17.
The attack was caught on video and posted on several social media platforms. Kylah Spring said in the video that Rosing punched her several times and kicked her in the stomach. Rosing could be heard using the n-word and “b*****” throughout the video.
Rosing’s attorney, Fred Peters, told the newspaper that the plea came after mediation with the two parties.
“A lot of things were said, apologies were made and we worked it out,” Peters said of the session. “She’s had a lot of time to think about what she’s done, and she wrote a nice letter of apology.”
But Spring told WLEX after the hearing that she did not believe Rosing was remorseful.
“I feel that a person who is remorseful takes steps that go toward proving that they are remorseful,” Spring said. “Not just words.”
In a message to students and staff following the incident, University of Kentucky President Eli Capilouto said the student who was attacked “acted with professionalism, restraint and discretion”.
“Let’s take this moment, however painful and ugly, to remind ourselves of the work we must remain committed to as a community where everyone is welcome and feels like they belong,” Capilouto wrote.