Charges reduced for some SU students implicated in alleged hate crime, lawyers speak out

SALISBURY, Md.- Cameron Guy and Riley Brister are just two of the individuals charged in an incident that happened on October 15.

According to court documents, a victim was lured to an off-campus apartment under false pretenses, where he was assaulted in what police call an alleged hate crime, because of his sexual orientation.

But Brister’s attorney, Steve Rakow said there’s another side to this story.

“As I understand, the allegations are that an older gentleman, somewhere in his late 30s or 40s, came to the apartment where my client resides, along with several others, intending to have sex with a 16-year-old,” Rakow said. “A lot of people say Maryland’s age of consent is 16. So what? It’s still a minor, and that individual still showed up with the intention of engaging in sexual activity with a minor.”

Both Guy and Brister are now facing two misdemeanor charges, second degree assault and false imprisonment. Guy’s attorney, Tom Maronick, told WMDT conversations with the state have been productive, leading to, what he believes, is a rightfully deserved reduction.

“While we continue to dispute all the charges, we believe the state’s action was appropriate, because they carefully looked at the allegations and the facts that they could prove, and they made the right decision to reduce down to what they did,” Maronick said.

WMDT asked the State’s Attorney’s Office about the decision to reduce the charges. In a statement, they said, “The Wicomico State’s Attorney’s Office has reviewed the evidence gathered during the investigation and we have charged as appropriate in light of that evidence.”

With the cases pending, Maronick had this message for the public:

“I think the important thing here is to not prejudge,” Maronick said. “The fact what you’re hearing is an allegation that’s been made of an event that took place, and you’re hearing one allegation as to what this was and how things happened.”