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Originally Posted by i'va biggen
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what's your point chimp? this thread is about them blackies. and you post some shit about white/white? who cares chimp? go stick a broom pole up your ass.
now back to the subject matter at hand ..
Suspended University at Albany student
Alexis Briggs tearfully apologized Tuesday while pleading guilty to her role in fabricating a story that she and two friends were victims of an alleged racial attack on a CDTA bus on Jan. 30.
"You knew it wasn't true?" Albany County Judge
Stephen Herrick asked Briggs, who was recently suspended from UAlbany for two years.
"Yes," she answered.
Briggs, 21, of Elmira Heights, Chemung County, faced up to a year in jail if convicted of misdemeanor charges that included third-degree assault and falsely reporting an incident.
Briggs pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct, a noncriminal violation similar to a traffic ticket. Under the deal, she must perform 100 hours of community service within the next 10 months and avoid any new criminal charges within the next year.
Briggs does not have to cooperate against her co-defendants, former college suitemates
Asha Burwell, 21, and
Ariel Agudio, 20, both of Long Island, who are headed to trial on allegations they concocted the story.
"I would like to apologize to the community and all of the people affected by the events that occurred on Jan. 30," Briggs told the judge, while being consoled by her defense attorney,
William Little. "I never intended any harm and I truly regret my actions. I was raised to take responsibility for my actions, and being the source of such negativity is hurtful on many levels."
On Jan. 30 about 1 a.m., Briggs, Burwell and Agudio, all of whom are black, boarded a CDTA bus at Quail Street and Western Avenue in Albany and along the way an argument unfolded that they alleged involved racial slurs and quickly turned violent. They claimed one of them was kicked on the floor of the bus. They said bystanders stood around and did nothing.
While questioning Briggs about the bus incident, the judge reminded Briggs that she, Burwell and Agudio called 911 twice to report the alleged attack.
"It was indicated to the 911 operator that the three of you had been jumped on a bus by a group of white males and females, assaulted, punched around the head and body and that this was a racially motivated attack. Is that the substance of the 911 call that was made?"
"Yes," Briggs answered.
Briggs admitted she met with a UAlbany campus investigator, watched videos of the bus ride, knew the report of a racial attack was false and still persisted in claiming it took place.
"You allowed that to become the basis for ongoing investigation and action by the
State University Police, the Albany County District Attorney's Office and SUNY authorities, is that correct?" Herrick asked Briggs.
"Yes," Briggs replied.
The racially charged allegations led to an on-campus rally, nationwide media attention and a sympathetic tweet from Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
On Tuesday, reading from a sheet of paper, Briggs told the judge: "While I felt that the comments directed towards me were offensive, I regret that my actions while confronting the passengers on the bus escalated the situation. I also regret that the role I played in the aftermath that ensued, because I should have done more to correct the narrative and truthfully explain what happened on that bus. I regret attending the (campus) rally and never anticipated the tremendous attention that would be given to this story or the far-reaching effect it would have and am disappointed in myself for not handling things differently."
Little told reporters he hoped his client's apology finalized the incident for her. Briggs wants to put it all behind her, he said.
"She really wanted to do the right thing. I think she did that today," Little said.
On Friday, Burwell and Agudio rejected plea bargains from Chief Assistant District Attorney David Rossi requiring they plead guilty to one count of third-degree falsely reporting an incident, a misdemeanor, and harassment.
The judge, in turn, would have sentenced the women to perform 100 hours community service, any time already served and responsibility for any unpaid, uninsured medical expenses of one of their alleged victims.
Burwell and Agudio face up to two years in jail if convicted of misdemeanor assault, attempted assault, falsely reporting an incident and harassment, a non-criminal violation.
Burwell and Agudio were dismissed from the college. Briggs, who was deemed less culpable, received a two-year suspension but is not planning to return to UAlbany, Little said.
rgavin@timesunion.com • 518-434-2403 • @RobertGavinT
