‘What about my rights?’: 73-year-old victim confronts judge after his attacker avoids prison despite leaving him permanently injured

A 28-year-old man who attacked two elderly pro-life protesters outside a Baltimore Planned Parenthood clinic received only home detention instead of prison time. Patrick Brice was sentenced this week to one year of home detention and three years of probation after being found guilty of assault charges.

According to Fox News, Baltimore Circuit Judge Yvette M. Bryant rejected prosecutors’ request for a 10-year prison sentence against Brice. The attack happened in May 2023 and left one victim with permanent eye damage. Surveillance video captured the entire incident outside the clinic.

“What about my rights and my well-being?” shouted Mark Crosby, the 73-year-old victim, as Judge Bryant left the courtroom on Thursday. Crosby was expressing his anger at what he saw as a light sentence for his attacker.

Elderly victims suffered serious injuries in an unprovoked attack

The incident began when Brice approached 84-year-old Richard Schaefer to debate about sin outside the Planned Parenthood facility. Brice said he lost control after Schaefer made what he thought was a racial comment. The surveillance video showed Brice pushing Schaefer into a flowerpot and then attacking Crosby when he tried to help.

Crosby suffered broken facial bones and permanent damage to his right eye. Photos posted on social media after the attack showed him with severe swelling and blood on his face. He was hospitalized for his injuries and continues to deal with lasting eye problems.

“I just snapped one day,” Brice said in court before apologizing to both men. As part of his sentence, he must take anger management classes, get drug and alcohol screening, and stay in therapy. The judge’s decision has drawn criticism from those who believe the punishment was too light, particularly when celebrities facing similar assault charges are released without formal charges due to lack of evidence.

Tom Brejcha from the Thomas More Society called the sentence a “slap on the wrist.” He said this was not a minor disagreement but a “vicious, targeted assault on two senior citizens.” The victims were simply praying and offering alternatives to abortion when they were attacked. One victim was knocked unconscious while the other suffered permanent injuries that will affect him for life.

Police reports show that several witnesses saw the assault happen. One witness described it as a debate that turned violent without warning. Both victims told police they were peacefully protesting when Brice approached them aggressively and then attacked without cause.

The case has raised questions about protecting peaceful protesters and whether the justice system takes attacks on elderly victims seriously enough, especially as federal assault charges against other protesters have been dropped due to false statements from law enforcement. Crosby’s attorney read a statement in court saying the attack showed “gross disregard for the law and human decency.” The victims said they had no way to defend themselves against the much younger attacker.