Brian Githens, senior defensive back on Lehigh’s football team, has been charged with a felony count of burglary, simple assault and criminal mischief after breaking into an off-campus student home at 618 Pierce Street Nov. 8, according to court records.
According to reports, the victims Samuel Hernandez, ’17, and Collin Davis, ’17, called police making them aware of the break-in, as well as the assault, stating that a group of people had kicked in their door and left several holes in their walls. Hernandez later told police he believed the members of the group belonged to the university football team.
Upon entering the home and putting several holes in the wall a man, later identified in a photo line-up by Hernandez as Githens, punched Hernandez in the face when he was sleeping.
After the assault on Hernandez, the men proceeded to kick Davis’s door in as well.
Hernandez was taken to St. Luke’s hospital where he was treated for a concussion and “a busted lip” according to reports.
After the initial identification of Githens, he was called into the Lehigh University Police Department where he was read his Miranda rights and gave the police a statement.
According to reports, Githens told police he entered the home seeking retribution for an assault on his fraternity president which took place on Nov. 5. Githens is a member of Chi Psi fraternity.
Githens admitted to knocking four holes in the walls and also admitted that he had “likely” gone to the wrong house and gone after the wrong people. He also told police he had reached out to Hernandez over the phone, and when he wasn’t able to reach him he sent him an apology text, according to police reports.
Records say Githens was arraigned Nov. 13 by Bethlehem Police Officer Sean Molony and was held at Northampton County Prison under $10,000 bail. He posted bail Nov. 16 and was released.
The Lehigh University Police Department could not be reached for comment Nov. 16. The Bethlehem Police Department declined comment, saying no information is presently available.
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1 Comment
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