Former SU student acquitted of charges in alleged hate crime trial

SALISBURY, Md. – A former Salisbury University student implicated in an alleged hate crime has been acquitted of all charges.

In the second day of trial on Wednesday, the defense motioned to grant judgement of acquittal for Benjamin Brandenburg, which was granted by the judge.

Brandenburg was acquitted of charges of second degree assault and false imprisonment

Day two of the trial started with the defense calling Brandenburg to testify Wednesday morning.

Brandenburg began his testimony by noting that he was “terrified” to be on the witness stand.

The defense started asking Brandenburg about his time as a pledge for Sigma Alpha Epsilon.

During that testimony, Brandenburg went into detail about his duties as a pledge, mainly he was in charge of cleaning brothers’ bongs, or marijuana smoking devices.

Brandenburg testified that he was at the apartment where the alleged assault took place because he was going to clean a brother’s bong, and was only slightly aware of the “To Catch a Predator” scheme some of the other brothers were going to do to the victim.

Brandenburg said he was “shell-shocked,” by the events that transpired, and that he was disgusted by the events that occurred.

The state cross-examined Brandenburg, making the case that Brandenburg was there at least 40 minutes after the assault took place and that he was part of the group chats which detailed the “To Catch a Predator” scheme about to take place. Prosecutors also pointed out that his hood was up in the videos, implying Brandenburg was trying to hide his identity.

Shortly after the state and defense both rested their cases, the defense motioned to the judge to grant a judgment of acquittal.

The judge granted the defenses request.

The judge said he granted the acquittal because he concluded there was no reasonable basis that Brandenburg participated in the events that led to the alleged hate crime, and that only his presence was the only indication of his involvement.

The jury was not factored into the decision by the judge.