Men who urinated and filmed brutal attack on homeless man get shocking break from judge
Two young men who beat a homeless man to a pulp in a disturbing video have gotten off easy, according to a leading county official.Boaz Winslow Brigham,21, and Malachy Damien Hayes, 18, pled guilty to elderly abuse Monday for their violent attack on Douglas Mark, 68, while he slept in a public park’s outdoor picnic area in Arroyo Grande.The judge sentenced the two young adults to formal probation for four years after about a year in county jail.Both are in custody of the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff.That punishment was a step down, however, from the maximum seven years in prison sought by Dan Dow, district attorney for San Luis Obispo County.
The judge downgraded the request after considering their youth, lack of prior criminal history, and willingness to plead guilty.“It’s one of the most shocking cases I’ve ever had,” Dow told The Post.“We were pretty disappointed that the judge did not sentence to prison like we asked.”Surveillance video revealed the two young adults walking over to the sleeping man on March 20 in the early hours of 1:30 a.m.Hayes stood over Mark and urinated on him until he woke.
As Mark tried to get up on his feet, Hayes then began punching Mark’s head.Mark, in an interview with The Post, had initially thought it was sprinklers.
Mark had been sleeping in parks for three years because they were one of the few places where he could stay overnight and charge his phone.“It just makes my blood boil when I think about it because it’s so demoralizing,” he said on the urination.“I can’t even — I get so mad I can’t even think.”Brigham soon joined in on the pummeling, both punching and kicking Mark in the head, face and body while he lay on the ground.
Mark said he tried to lunge at their feet but one of them stepped back and grabbed him by the hair.Brigham meanwhile video-recorded the assault, including the urination, on his cell phone.“R.Kelly,” the recorder shouted during the incident, referring to the infamo...