By Katie Wagner, Staff Writer
Princeton University student William Scharf has been freed from charges of serving alcohol to a minor and maintaining a nuisance brought against him by Princeton Borough Prosecutor Kenneth Lozier.
The charges, which were dismissed by the court at the request of Mr. Lozier on Monday, were filed against the former president of the Charter Club, following the borough’s investigation into a Dec. 1 fight between two students that took place at the Prospect Avenue eating club — a food and social organization for Princeton University students. The fight involved Paige Schmidt, a senior at the university, pouring beer down junior Kara Murphy’s back and Ms. Murphy hitting Ms. Schmidt, according to police reports.
Rocco C. Cipparone Jr., Mr. Scharf’s attorney, said the state’s discovery regarding the case provided no evidence that Mr. Scharf had been at Charter Club or that anyone from Charter Club had served alcohol to minors on the night of the fight.
”He was inappropriately charged from the beginning,” Mr. Cipparone said.
”I had discussed the case with the prosecutor after we appeared in court last week and subsequently sent a letter emphasizing that I did not believe there was any basis to substantiate the charges and even to have charged him in the beginning,” Mr. Cipparone said, regarding the prosecutor’s request to have the charges dismissed.
Mr. Cipparone had appeared in court March 10 for a hearing for Mr. Scharf that had been postponed by the prosecutor. Mr. Lozier made this decision because Ms. Murphy, who he considered a key witness to the prosecution, did not show up.
