Criminal charges against a 19-year-old Fairfield University student from Long Island accused of promoting a fake SantaCon gathering that received more than 600,000 views last month on Instagram, have been dropped by state prosecutors in Connecticut, according to court records obtained by Newsday.

The student, Emmet Blaney of Massapequa, was arrested by the Fairfield Police Department on Nov. 19, charged with criminal attempt to commit disorderly conduct and third-degree criminal attempt to commit criminal trespass. Authorities said the charge related to a social media post by Blaney "promoting a SantaCon gathering, at specific private residential beach addresses that he has no affiliation with" — without homeowner permission.

The arrest followed a complaint filed by a homeowner who saw h

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