SALISBURY, Md.- A 54-year-old Princess Anne, Md., man is scheduled to plead guilty later this week in connection to racially-related graffiti found on the campus of Salisbury University.
On June 3, the Office for the State’s Attorney for Wicomico County charged Jerome Kevin Jackson with a single count of maliciously defacing property while exhibiting racial animosity. This type of crime is commonly referred to as a hate crime.
The charging decision was made after an investigation conducted
by the Salisbury University Police Department in cooperation with the Office of the State’s Attorney.
Prosecutors said Jackson has elected to plead guilty and is scheduled to do so on Friday, June 12 in the District Court for Wicomico County.
The plea agreement was drafted in consultation with the Salisbury University Police Department and university officials. The plea agreement was then signed by Jackson and filed on June 3 in District Court.
According to the terms of the plea agreement, Jackson will pay $449 in restitution to Salisbury University for the damage incurred to their property and take responsibility for the racist and sometimes gender discriminatory graffiti that was discovered on campus on Oct. 8, 2019, Oct. 10, 2019, Oct. 22, 2019, Nov. 4, 2019, and Feb. 19, 2020. An example of one of the graffiti messages found scrawled on the campus was this: “Sandy Hook comes to SU kill [racial slur]." Photos of that message and other racially offensive and sexually-charged graffiti were widely shared on social media after their discovery.
Upon a finding of guilt, the state said it will recommend that Jackson be sentenced to 18 months behind bars.
The graffiti incidents caused significant disruption for the SU community. In December, hundreds of students and supporters held a protest to demand increased racial equity and justice on campus and the greater Salisbury community.
As a result of the incidents, the university implemented a number of long-term steps and diversity initiatives to address student concerns, including holding healing events.
Prosecutors have not yet revealed a motive behind the crimes.