All charges were dismissed against Wharton sophomore Justin Wynter at a preliminary hearing Tuesday due to lack of evidence.
Wynter was originally arraigned on charges related to entering a female student's room in Harnwell College House early in the morning of Sept. 27.
Wynter was arrested after that student provided University Police with a physical description that matched his appearance on surveillance tapes.
Tuesday, Judge Linda Anderson "dismissed everything for lack of evidence," said Ari Moldovsky, Wynter's attorney.
As a result, Wynter "will have no criminal record," according to an e-mail statement from the University Department of Public Safety.
Wynter's attorney was pleased with the outcome -- and the resulting end of the case. "Justin's name has been cleared," he said. "This was nothing but an honest mistake, and I think everybody knows that now."
Wynter's family was similarly relieved with the outcome, which will facilitate his return to Penn in the spring. He has been at his home in Cromwell, Conn., since his arrest.
| The latest on this story: No 'malicious intent' for Wharton sophomore (Dec 10, 2003) Questions arise from dismissal of charges (Dec 08, 2003) |
"Justin's pride has taken a hit," he added. "But we know he's a very resilient boy -- extremely intelligent -- and we think he'll bounce back very well."
"The whole thing has been a really unfortunate ordeal, in some ways a learning experience," Wesley Wynter said. "A very bitter learning experience."
The family was happy that the matter was cleared up within a semester. Wesley Wynter said that Justin plans to return to University housing for the spring term.
"We're really glad this is behind us," Wesley Wynter said.
He is also pleased that the end of the case will bring an end to Justin's negative exposure in the media. "The kind of coverage that it received at the front end was most distressing," he said.
Still, Moldovsky is confident that the results of the hearing will clear up any misunderstandings about Wynter.
Wynter had been charged with burglary, criminal trespass, indecent assault, simple assault, reckless endangerment of another person, unlawful restraint and false imprisonment.
The preliminary hearing was originally set for early October, but was rescheduled twice before occurring on Tuesday.
"Justice was served," Moldovsky said. "The hearing was held; the charges were dropped as they should have been," he added.
The family is "obviously extremely pleased," Wynter said, adding that it has been a "horrible couple of months."
"We feel vindicated, we feel that the right decision was made, that there was no crime," Wesley said. "Our son is clearly not a criminal. We never doubted him for a minute; we knew that no crime occurred."
