Former University of Hartford student Brianna Rae Brochu, 18, is charged with third-degree criminal mischief and second-degree breach of peace for smearing bodily fluids on her Black roommate’s toothbrush, backpack and food. However, Brochu’s criminal charges may be expunged.
USA Today reports that Brochu applied for an accelerated probation program on Tuesday (Jan. 30) that, upon completion, could potentially wipe her criminal record clean.
Several members of the Connecticut NAACP have called for hate crime charges, but Hartford State’s Attorney Gail Hardy claims there is not enough evidence to charge Brochu with a hate crime—though the former student referred to Chennel “Jazzy” Rowe as “Jamaican Barbie” while bragging about the harassment on social media back in October.
“Finally did it. Yo girl got rid of her roommate,” Brochu wrote in a now-deleted Instagram post. “After 1 1/2 months of spitting in her coconut oil, putting moldy clam dip in her lotion and rubbing used tampons on her backpack, putting her toothbrush in places where the sun doesn’t shine, and so much more I can finally say goodbye Jamaican Barbie.”
Still, Hardy told the AP, “We don’t have evidence to support that the conduct that Brianna Brochu engaged in was committed to intimidate or harass Miss Rowe because of her perceived race or ethnicity.”
President of the Connecticut NAACP chapter Scot X. Esdaile, will ask the legislature’s Black and Puerto Rican caucus to conduct a hearing on the matter, according to The Hartford Courant.
A judge set a hearing for March 12 to decide whether Brochu’s application will be accepted.
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