Chennel Rowe goes to court to support Brianna Brochu's sentence

August 2024 ยท 3 minute read

A white former Connecticut university student accused of smearing body fluids on her black roommate's belongings has been allowed into a probation program.

A state judge in Hartford on Monday granted 18-year-old Brianna Brochu's request for accelerated rehabilitation that could result in criminal charges being erased from her record.

Misdemeanor criminal mischief and breach of peace charges will be erased if she successfully completes two years of probation and 200 hours of community service.

Police said the former University of Hartford student wrote on Instagram in October about rubbing used tampons on her roommate's backpack and putting her roommate's toothbrush 'where the sun doesn't shine.'

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Brianna Brochu, the former University of Hartford student accused of harassing her roommate by smearing bodily fluid on the roommate's backpack and tampering with other items, cries in court Monday, March 12, 2018 in Hartford 

Brianna Brochu, the former University of Hartford student accused of harassing her roommate by smearing bodily fluid on the roommate's backpack and tampering with other items, cries in court Monday, March 12, 2018 in Hartford 

Chennel 'Jazzy' Rowe, Brochu's former college roommate, speaks at Brochu's hearing in Superior Court in Hartford on Monday

Chennel 'Jazzy' Rowe, Brochu's former college roommate, speaks at Brochu's hearing in Superior Court in Hartford on Monday

Rowe said that she did not oppose Brochu's request for accelerated rehabilitation. She is seen above leading the courtroom

Rowe said that she did not oppose Brochu's request for accelerated rehabilitation. She is seen above leading the courtroom

Outside of Superior Court in Hartford, Rowe (at center left) joins a prayer circle with local clergy and NAACP members following Brochu's hearing, where Brochu received accelerated rehabilitation

Outside of Superior Court in Hartford, Rowe (at center left) joins a prayer circle with local clergy and NAACP members following Brochu's hearing, where Brochu received accelerated rehabilitation

She also called her roommate 'Jamaican Barbie,' and wrote that she put moldy clam dip in her roommate's lotions and spit in her coconut oil, police said. 

Her roommate, Chennel Rowe, said she developed throat pain.

Rowe attended the court hearing and did not oppose the probation program request Monday, saying she hoped Brochu would 'change her ways.'

Civil rights advocates called for hate crime charges. State NAACP President Scot X. Esdaile called it 'blatant racism,' but Hartford State's Attorney Gail Hardy said there was no evidence of hate crimes.

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Share 48k shares Brochu was trying to force her roommate Chennelle 'Jazzy' Rowe out of their shared dorm. She is pictured right in her mugshot Brochu was trying to force her roommate Chennelle 'Jazzy' Rowe out of their shared dorm. She is pictured right in her mugshot

Brochu (right) had been trying to force her roommate Rowe (left) out of their shared dorm

Brochu boasted about how she tormented her roommate on Instagram after she moved out and referred to her as 'Jamaican Barbie' 

Brochu boasted about how she tormented her roommate on Instagram after she moved out and referred to her as 'Jamaican Barbie' 

Brochu was expelled from the university after being arrested. Her lawyer has said that the abuse was not racially motivated

Brochu was expelled from the university after being arrested. Her lawyer has said that the abuse was not racially motivated

Brochu's attorney, Tom Stevens, has said Brochu and Rowe had a falling out and Brochu's actions were not racially motivated.

Both women had asked school officials for a change in roommates.

Stevens apologized on Brochu's behalf Monday. He said Brochu wanted to apologize sooner, but he advised her not to because of a potential civil lawsuit.

Brochu, of Harwinton, had told police her actions were in retaliation for Rowe's 'rude behavior' and Rowe posting videos of her sleeping and making fun of her snoring.

Brochu also told authorities that she did put tampon blood on Rowe's backpack and licked Rowe's plate, fork and spoon, but denied doing anything else.

She said she lied in the Instagram post in an attempt to 'appear funny,' a police report said.

Rowe (above documenting how Brochu tormented her in a Facebook video) is accused of starting the feud by posting a video of Brochu snoring on Snapchat 

Rowe (above documenting how Brochu tormented her in a Facebook video) is accused of starting the feud by posting a video of Brochu snoring on Snapchat 

Brochu's lawyer said the case was one of two young students simply not getting along Brochu's lawyer said the case was one of two young students simply not getting along

Brochu's lawyer said the case was one of two young students simply not getting along after being randomly placed together

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