Ex-University of Kentucky student pleads guilty to assault in racist attack

LEXINGTON, Kentucky — A former University of Kentucky student pleaded guilty Monday to assault and other charges stemming from a racially motivated attack on a black student.

Sophia Rosing, 23, pleaded guilty to four counts of fourth-degree assault, one count of disorderly conduct and public intoxication, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported reported.

Rosing, who is white, attacked a black student in 2022 while she was working in a dorm on campus. Rosing was arrested the night of the attack and later expelled from school and banned from campus by the university president.

Rosing’s lawyer, Fred Peters, told the newspaper that the guilty plea came after mediation between the two parties.

“A lot was said, an apology was made and we resolved it,” Peters said of the session. “She had a lot of time to think about what she did and she wrote a beautiful letter of apology.”

Rosing faces a maximum prison sentence of 1 year and 100 hours of community service, Peters said. Her sentencing is scheduled for October 17.

The attack was captured on video and posted to multiple social media platforms. Kylah Spring said in the video that Rosing punched her multiple times and kicked her in the stomach. Rosing can be heard yelling racial slurs throughout the video.