1 student involved in ZBT incident won’t face hate crime charges, judge rules
A Syracuse City Court judge ruled to reduce charges for Kyle Anderson, a student involved in a September incident at Zeta Beta Tau fraternity. The reduction was decided based on punishments Anderson already faced from SU. Lars Jendruschewitz | Senior Staff Photographer
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Syracuse University student Kyle Anderson will no longer face felony hate crime charges for his involvement in an alleged fall 2025 antisemitic hate crime at Zeta Beta Tau, WSYR NewsChannel 9 reported Tuesday.
Syracuse City Court Judge Derrek Thomas reduced Anderson’s original charges of burglary as a hate crime in the second degree and criminal nuisance in the second degree to a single criminal trespassing charge, NewsChannel 9 reported.
Thomas also ruled that the reduced charge could potentially be dismissed if Anderson does not commit criminal conduct for the next six months.
Anderson was charged after driving fellow SU student Samuel Patten in throwing pork inside ZBT, a historically Jewish fraternity, during Rosh Hashanah in September. Patten entered the house, threw a clear plastic bag of pork at the walls, then the two sped off in Anderson’s Jeep Wrangler, the Syracuse Police Department told The Daily Orange in September.
Melissa Swartz, Anderson’s attorney, said her client had “no advance knowledge” of Patten’s plans in a statement to NewsChannel 9.
“At most, during the car ride he realized the other student planned some type of prank involving throwing something at a house, but he did not know where it would occur, why it was being done or that the other student intended to enter the fraternity,” Swartz said.
Thomas ruled Anderson’s case an “Adjournment in Contemplation of Dismissal” in addition to his newer count of criminal trespass, meaning the case is paused as long as the defendant complies with the conditions presented.
Prosecutors told NewsChannel 9 the reduction of Anderson’s charges was decided based on the punishments he’s already faced from SU’s administration.
Anderson has expressed “remorse” and visited the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., which also led to the charge reduction, NewsChannel 9 reported.
“His criminal conduct, if any, was being an accomplice to a criminal nuisance,” Swartz said. “He fully appreciates the seriousness of what occurred and has expressed genuine remorse.”
As of Tuesday night, Patten will face his original charges. The case is still under investigation.
