Former UK student charged in racist attack denied probation, early release from jail
Sophia Rosing, the former University of Kentucky student who pleaded guilty to several charges after a racist attack on a Black student, was denied probation and early release from jail, according to court documents.
In November 2022, Rosing assaulted and used racial slurs toward a student desk clerk, Kylah Spring. Spring, who is Black, was working at the front desk of a UK residence hall at the time. Video of the attack and arrest — including of Rosing attacking a police officer who was called to the dorm — went viral.
Rosing pleaded guilty last year to four counts of fourth-degree assault, one count of disorderly conduct, and one count of public intoxication. She was sentenced to 12 months in jail, 100 hours of community service and a $25 fine, her attorney Fred Peters told the Herald-Leader at the time.
In February, Rosing asked for probation after being in jail since October 2024. The filing states that Rosing’s “actions led to consequences she never anticipated.”
Rosing’s actions “do not pose an ongoing threat to public safety,” the document said, and requested probation with supervision, community service and rehabilitation programs for the remainder of her sentence.
Fayette Circuit Court Judge Lucy VanMeter denied Rosing’s request, saying the court received letters from Spring and her mother opposing Rosing’s shock probation.
Another letter was enclosed in online court documents from Rebecca Cornelius, a professor emerita at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, urging VanMeter to uphold the sentence.
“This is a very disturbing incident and I feel that the defendant’s crime is severe enough that she should be held to serving her original sentence,” Cornelius said. “We are seeing more and more unfettered hateful, racist behavior throughout our country. It is a dangerous precedent to permit such actions without people being held accountable and facing the consequences.”
VanMeter agreed.
“The Court concludes shock probation would unduly depreciate the seriousness of the offenses and accordingly denies the Motion for Shock Probation,” the filing says.
What happened the night of the attack
Rosing, a white student, entered Boyd Hall and began taunting, using racial slurs and making derogatory comments toward Spring. After police arrived, Rosing continued using slurs, resisted arrest and bit a police officer, according to the arrest report.
The video was captured and shared on social media, quickly going viral and putting the spotlight on UK.
The university banned Rosing from campus, and she withdrew from UK shortly after being arrested. Rosing was terminated from her job at Dillard’s, according to the company, and lost a social media partnership.
A march was held on UK’s campus after the incident, where hundreds of students gathered to support Spring, make a call for unity and insist UK take action.
Rosing was initially charged with first and second offenses of public intoxication, third-degree assault of a police officer, fourth-degree assault and second-degree disorderly conduct. She posted a $10,000 bond the next night and was released.
A grand jury indicted Rosing in February 2023, and soon after she entered a plea of not guilty.