Former UK student, Sophia Rosing, was sentenced to 12 months in jail for assaulting a student desk clerk in November 2022.
On Oct. 17, Rosing was convicted on four counts of fourth-degree assault, one count of disorderly conduct and one count of alcohol intoxication after pleading guilty to these charges on Aug. 21.
In addition to serving 12 months in jail, Rosing was ordered to complete 100 days of community service and pay a $25 fine.
Fayette Circuit Judge Lucy A. VanMeter said granting Rosing probation would “depreciate the seriousness of what occurred.”
A video depicting Rosing assaulting and using racial slurs toward Kylah Spring, an overnight student desk clerk for Boyd Hall at the time, circulated the internet in November 2022.
Rosing was arrested on Nov. 6, 2022, in Boyd Hall after she “stumbled when walking and began talking to the elevator,” just after 1 a.m., according to Spring’s social media post, the Kentucky Kernel reported at the time.
Rosing’s attorney, Fred Peters said he has asked the court to be “as lenient as possible” when considering her sentence as she is a first time offender who made “terrible decisions one night.”
Peters said Rosing has been to anger management classes, diversity education classes and drug and alcohol counseling. He said Rosing also volunteered to complete 100 hours of community service and that he believes she has learned a serious lesson.
After Peters urged the court to consider these steps, Kylah Spring’s mother, Betsy Spring, spoke on behalf of the family after previously saying the Springs would not speak during the sentencing today.
“I will just say at this moment, it is quite frustrating to hear that 100 hours of service at the Salvation Army should suffice as appropriate when considering sentencing this young woman for how she has completely disrupted the life of my child,” Betsy said. “I do understand that one moment should not define you for the rest of your life, and I also understand that for every moment we are accountable for what we do. Period.”
Rosing had a prepared statement that she read before her final sentence was announced.
“I would like to apologize to the court for my actions that have led us to be here today. I would like to apologize to everyone who was impacted,” Rosing said. “First Kylah, to the black community, along with the university and my family.”
Rosing was banned from UK’s campus in the days following the incident and is ineligible to re-enroll, according to an email from UK President Eli Capilouto.
“In my view, there has to be a consequence for these actions for these four assaults,” VanMeter said. “There are four victims who are physically injured, who are emotionally injured.”
