Murphy brought loaded gun to class in Steinberg-Dietrich Former Wharton evening student Douglas Murphy, who was caught in class with a loaded 9mm semiautomatic pistol last April, was convicted Tuesday of violating Pennsylvania's Uniform Firearms Act, along with 10 other charges. Murphy was also convicted of various counts of harassment, ethnic intimidation, simple assault, terroristic threats, stalking and recklessly endangering another person. Philadelphia Municipal Court Judge Harvey Robbins presided over the two-hour trial and sentenced Murphy to three-and-a-half years of probation, along with an evaluation focusing on drug and alcohol use. Murphy's attorney, Donald Marino, has already filed an appeal in Philadelphia's Court of Common Pleas. Murphy is also facing possible disciplinary action by the University. Student Dispute Resolution Center Acting Director Michele Goldfarb said she could not comment on the University's involvement with Murphy's case. But Victim Support and Special Services Director Maureen Rush said the University's judicial proceedings will not continue while the appeal is being processed. During Tuesday's Municipal Court trial, complainant Michael Sanford, a former Penn student, testified about three separate confrontations with Murphy, Assistant District Attorney Nate Andrisani said. The first two arguments between Murphy and Sanford culminated in the April 11 incident, when Murphy was found in possession of a loaded gun during a night class held in Steinberg-Dietrich Hall, Andrisani said. Murphy sat right behind Sanford when he had the gun in class, Andrisani said, alluding to a relationship between Murphy's weapon possession and Sanford's presence in the class. But according to Defense Attorney Donald Marino, the incident involving the gun had nothing to do with Sanford. Murphy testified that he had been doing business in a bad neighborhood of Philadelphia before class, and felt the need to bring a gun for protection. Since Murphy did not want to leave his gun in his car, he kept it in his jacket pocket when he went to class, Marino said. A student saw the gun and the police were called to the scene. University Police Sgt. Tom Rambo and officer Michael Sylvester, both of whom testified at the trial, arrived at the scene and arrested Murphy. Wharton evening student William Ruane, Murphy's classmate, also testified about the incident. University Police Capt. John Richardson said the most important issue in this case is that Murphy violated University policy regarding guns. "If he felt that wherever he was, it was necessary for him to carry a weapon, fine," Richardson said. "However, when he came back into this community, that was a violation of the rules of this University," The University's Policies and Procedures manual prohibits "the possession of dangerous articles (such as firearms, explosive materials, etc.) on University property." During the first confrontation between Murphy and Sanford, Andrisani said Murphy punched the complainant approximately seven times. But Marino is quick to point out that no official report was filed afterward and Sanford did not seek medical attention as a result of the alleged incident. Andrisani said Murphy also directed ethnic slurs at Sanford. "The evidence presented was that the defendant on more than one occasion referred to the complainant as a 'Jew bastard,' " Andrisani said. "It was coupled with a violent attack and that's where the ethnic intimidation came in." But Marino said he thought many of the charges, including those of ethnic intimidation, were not valid. "I think the ethnic intimidation and stalking and terroristic threats should not have been sustained," Marino said. "If some fair judge would just take a look at what happened here, I think he or she would come to a reasonable conclusion which we could all live with. "Some small period of non-reporting probation would be more than enough," he added. "[Murphy] has said he was wrong and he is sorry." Both attorneys said they found the incident upsetting. "It's odd and scary that something like this could happen, that it could cross into ethnic slurs and that it would involve violence and carrying a gun," Andrisani said. Murphy is currently not attending classes at the University, and Marino said he does not expect him to ever return to Wharton. "The Wharton School meant everything to him," Marino said. "It's something that should have never happened." Goldfarb said she felt the case was presented "confidently and professionally" by the District Attorney's Office. "It appeared from his reaction that the judge took it very seriously," she said, adding that during his sentencing, the judge said Murphy and the situation worried him. "We also take cases of this nature very seriously," Goldfarb added. Daily Pennsylvanian reporter Josh Fineman contributed to this article.
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