Former University of Kentucky student charged in racist attack released early from jail

Monica Kast, Lexington Herald-Leader on Jun 25, 2025

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Sophia Rosing, the former University of Kentucky student who pleaded guilty to several charges after a racist attack on a Black student, has been released from jail early, a state official said.

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.

On Wednesday, a spokesperson for the Kentucky Justice & Public Safety Cabinet confirmed Rosing had been released early.

“She received pre-sentence credit and good time credit from the jail, which advanced her release to May 11, 2025,” the spokesperson said.

Earlier this year, she asked for probation and early release after being in jail since October 2024. At the time, Fayette Circuit Court Judge Lucy VanMeter denied the request, saying early release and probation would “unduly depreciate the seriousness of the offenses.”

Rosing is not listed as an inmate on the Division of Community Corrections website.

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.