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Salisbury University students charged and suspended over alleged beating

by November 8, 2024

A dozen college students in Maryland have been charged after authorities say they used social media to lure a man to an apartment and attack him.

The arresting agency, the Salisbury Police Department, initially announced charges against seven Salisbury University students in a news release Tuesday after the alleged assault occurred in October. Authorities released another update Thursday, adding the names of five more students allegedly involved.

Police said an investigation revealed the man was targeted by students “because of his sexual preferences.”

Salisbury University is located on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, more than 100 miles southeast of Baltimore.

Police were notified of a suspected attack at an off-campus apartment

On Halloween, university police called Salisbury police about an assault that occurred at an off-campus apartment for college-age students, the release said.

Investigators spoke with witnesses and saw video on a cellphone that showed a man being attacked by “multiple college-age males,” Salisbury police wrote in their news release.

After investigators found out who the victim was, they met with him to learn more.

According to police, the suspects verbally and physically assaulted the victim for several minutes

The victim, who is not a Salisbury University student, told authorities the attack occurred on Oct. 15.

The victim said a group of men used a social media account to invite him to a house “under false pretenses.” When the victim emerged, several men surrounded him and forced him to sit on a chair in the middle of the living room.

They then began kicking, punching and spitting at the man while calling him “derogatory names,” police said.

According to the victim, he tried to leave the apartment several times, but was thrown to the ground each time he tried. Authorities said the attack lasted several minutes. The victim sought medical treatment and doctors informed him that he not only had bruises but also a broken rib.

“The investigation revealed that the victim was targeted based on his sexual preferences,” Salisbury police said in the news release.

Assault caught on video triggers wave of arrests

Investigators initially identified seven men who they said were involved in the attack. The list includes:

  • Zachary Leinemann, 18
  • Bennan Aird, 18
  • Cruz Cespedes, 19
  • Elijah Johnson, 19
  • Riley Brister, 20
  • Dylan Earp, 20
  • Ryder Baker, 20

On Thursday, authorities announced that five more people had been charged, including:

  • Cameron Guy, 18
  • Jacob Howard, 19
  • Patrick Gutierrez, 19
  • Dylan Pietuszka, 20
  • Eric Sinclair, 21

The men are charged with first-degree assault, false imprisonment, reckless endangerment and hate crimes.

Each suspect was taken to the Salisbury Police Department for processing and later released at the Wicomico County Detention Center, police said.

Lawyers say the victim tried to solicit sex from someone he thought was underage

James L. Britt, an attorney representing Leinemann, said in a statement to USA TODAY that the victim demanded sex from what he believed was a 16-year-old.

“In our justice system, every person is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a trial in which all relevant facts are presented,” Britt wrote in an email to USA TODAY on Friday. “Once all the facts are established, it will be very clear that this case is less about sexual orientation and more about an adult man soliciting a child for sex.”

Steven W. Rakow, an attorney representing Brister, expressed similar sentiments in a statement, saying the incident was “not a hate crime.”

Rakow said the attack victim was at least 40 years old and “showed up … with the intention of having sex with a 16-year-old.”

According to the People’s Law Library of Maryland, the age of consent in Maryland is 16.

“Exactly what transpired after his arrival is still unknown as we have no findings from the state yet – no police reports, no witness statements, no medical records to support or confirm any injuries to those involved, the existence of a video has not been confirmed.” “The acts were confirmed or communicated to the defense and we have no idea who the people were who notified the police more than two weeks after the incident,” Rakow said.

He said his client Brister was released Wednesday and will plead not guilty. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 6. Rakow expects further information by then.

“The state will simply put a law enforcement officer on the stand to read the probable cause statement,” Rakow said. “I expect that, despite the officer’s cross-examination, the judge will find probable cause to believe a crime was committed and will send the case to district court for further trial and trial.”

The Wicomico County District Attorney’s Office declined to comment on the allegations Friday.

It was not immediately clear Friday who represents Cespedes, Earp, Baker, Guy, Howard, Pietuszka and Sinclair. The Wicomico County Public Defender’s Office, listed as representing Gutierrez and Johnson, did not immediately respond to requests for comment Friday, and an attorney representing Aird did not immediately respond.

University and student association respond to student arrests

Salisbury University President Carolyn Ringer Lepre publicly responded to the arrests Wednesday afternoon. In a message shared on Facebook, Lepre said the Salisbury University community had been plagued by a sense of “shock and disbelief.”

“Let me be clear,” she wrote. “We are dismayed by these allegations. I am dismayed by these allegations.”

Lepre called the alleged attack “disturbing” and “horrific” and said Salisbury University should be a place where people should feel safe. Violence is “unacceptable,” she said.

She encouraged community members to let the investigation take its course and try not to speculate.

She said she urged the university’s Office of Student Affairs to take “appropriate interim suspension action” in accordance with university policy.

President Lepre spoke publicly again on Thursday evening after authorities announced the second wave of arrests.

Lepre called the attack “an act of profound hatred” and said violence against LGBTQ+ and Ally communities is “destructive” and does not reflect the campus community’s belief in respect.

“Although these crimes were not committed against another student, the thought that this could happen to anyone — regardless of the circumstances — is disturbing,” she wrote.

Lepre said she and other school leaders met with members of the LGBTQ+ community to find ways to “heal as a community.” The university will establish a task force on LGBTQ+ inclusivity.

She also said there will be a unity march and vigil in the community on Monday.

Some of the men were members of a fraternity on campus called Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Lepre wrote in a Facebook post about the arrests on Thursday.

Lepre said the affected students have been suspended, meaning they are not allowed on campus and cannot attend classes in person or virtually. The fraternity was also suspended, she said.

Sigma Alpha Epsilon said in a statement Friday afternoon that the organization was disappointed to learn of the allegations against former members.

“The actions of these individuals are not consistent with the values ​​of our organization or reflect the tenets of our fraternity’s creed, the True Gentleman,” the fraternity said, adding that the members involved have been expelled. According to the fraternity, the Fraternity Service Center reviewed the incident and determined it was “confined solely to the displaced individuals.”

“The remaining members of our chapter are dedicated to our mission and continue to uphold the high standards expected of Sigma Alpha Epsilon,” the statement said.

Lawyer says university ‘jumped to conclusions’

Rakow, representing Brister, said it was “regrettable” that Salisbury University made statements and “jumped to conclusions by suspending these young men before any findings were made regarding this incident.”

“Apparently due process does not apply to science,” he wrote.

Authorities said Thursday that the investigation is ongoing.

They are asking anyone with information about the incident or similar situations to contact the Salisbury Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division at (410) 548-3165 or submit tips anonymously through Crime Solvers at (410) 548-1776.

Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY’s NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Follow her on Twitter at @SaleenMartin or send her an email at [email protected].

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