Presidential hopeful and Senate Treasurer Trinity Robinson guilty of aggravated menacing in December after threats against Ohio U Parking Services

By: Madeline Harden and Izzy Keller

Editor’s Note: This story was updated to include clarifications provided by OUPD Staff Lieutenant Tim Ryan. This story was also updated to include comment from Student Senate Director of Public Relations Carson Sarver.

Ohio University Student Senate Treasurer Trinity Robinson pled guilty to a charge of aggravated menacing Dec. 20. Robinson is also running for president of Student Senate on the EMPOWER OHIO ticket. 

According to the charging complaint, Robinson threatened Assistant Director of Transportation and Parking Operations Gabriel Gaston aka Isaac Gaston that she would “blow up” parking services. OUPD charged Robinson with a first-degree misdemeanor. 

Despite this incident, Robinson still continued her campaign for Student Senate president, a position that comes with paid tuition. 

It is unclear if the Senate’s governing body, the judicial panel, was aware of these charges or if Robinson will be allowed to continue her campaign given a specific section of the Student Senate’s Rules and Procedures regarding candidacy revocation.

Section 14.10 (a) of the rules and procedures states: “A candidate shall be subject to an examination conducted by the Judicial Panel and revocation if they are found to exhibit behavior antithetical to the rights, interests, and needs of the students at Ohio University. Examples of such behavior may include hazing, sexual assault, harassment, or cyberbullying.”

The Ohio University Police Department arrived at Ohio U Parking Services, located at 100 Factory St., at 11:59 a.m. on Nov. 3 about an “angry customer that called and made a statement about burning the place down when she arrives to pay her parking tickets,” according to the police report. 

On the scene, OUPD officer John Young went to Gaston’s office to listen to the recording of the phone call; then, confirmed Robinson’s identity, according to the police report– all occurred while Robinson was in the parking services building. 

According to the initial narrative written by OUPD Lt. Brittney VanBibber, “when Officer Young arrived the female in question (Robinson) was already at parking services paying her ticket and being very animated, loud and yelling at everyone.” 

In the OUPD report, Young writes that he heard a portion of the recordings before overhearing Robinson in the other room. After she paid her ticket, he “followed her outside of the building and watched her leave the area,” according to the police report.

She then approached VanBibber outside Ohio U Parking Services and the police report reads Robinson “stated an older male professor had punched her in the arm while she was paying her ticket in an attempt to get her to calm down. Robinson stated it hurt her arm when he punched her with a closed fist.”

The police report revealed the professor was Matthew Morris, an associate professor in the music department. According to the police report, witness accounts along with video and audio of the altercation between Robinson and Morris determined Morris did not cause or attempt to cause Robinson any physical harm. There are currently no charges against Morris on the Athens County Municipal Court docket.

While Robinson talked to VanBibber, Young finished listening to the phone recordings and confirmed an active warrant against Robinson for a traffic offense. VanBibber took Robinson into custody for the warrants and aggravated menacing, the report stated.

A fake ID was found on Robinson by OUPD during a search of her property, according to the report. 

As OUPD transported Robinson to Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail, officer Young reported Robinson talked about violence against Morris and the physical appearance of Young. 

“Trinity made comments in reference to myself being a rent-a-cop and that there should be a height requirement to be a police officer. Trinity also made comments about my head being too wide and my ears being to large,” the police report noted. 

Student Senate President Dayna Shoulder posted Robinson’s over $500 bail at Southeast Ohio Regional Jail on Nov. 3, according to a bond receipt available on the court docket. 

Initially, Robinson entered a not guilty plea Nov. 4 in Athens County Municipal Court. On Nov. 17 Stephanie Russell-Ramos, of Student Legal Services, gave notice to appear as Robinson’s attorney.

On Dec. 20, Robinson changed her plea to guilty to the charge and the Athens County Municipal Court ordered her to pay a $900 fine along with two years probation. Robinson was also ordered to have no contact directly or indirectly with Ohio U Parking Services. Athens County Municipal Court also dismissed the charge for fictitious identification. 

Student Senate Director of Public Relations Carson Sarver confirmed advisors and the Judicial Panel were aware of the incident and an internal investigation determined no violation of the Rules and Procedures.

“Treasurer Robinson remains in good standing with the Ohio University Student Senate. The article written is not a reflection of Treasurer Robinson’s ability to represent the students of Ohio University. Treasurer Robinson continues to carry out her duties and will keep Student Senate informed of all financial responsibilities,” Sarver said in an email from Wednesday.

The New Political reached out to Assistant Dean of Students Chad Barnhardt and University Communications and Marketing (UCM) about whether or not the office of the dean was aware of these charges, if there was any punishment handed down from the university and the vetting process for candidates of Student Senate executive officers. 

UCM confirmed the university was aware of the incident and “any student who is charged with a crime is referred to the Office of Community Standards and Student Responsibility to determine if a violation of the Student Code of Conduct has occurred,” Daniel Pittman shared in an email. 

However, UCM was unable to share disciplinary decisions due to FERPA. 

TNP also contacted Robinson, who had not responded by time of publication.

The election for Student Senate executive officers is set for April 4.