Acquittal in Assault Case Draws Outrage

In June, a judge acquitted Patrick Blythe of a first-degree assault charge related to a violent attack on 73-year-old pro-life advocate Mark Crosby that occurred in May 2023 outside a Planned Parenthood facility in Baltimore.

This acquittal was significant for Blythe’s supporters, who now saw a decreased likelihood of prison time.

Mark Crosby’s attorney, Terrell Roberts, who was supported by the Thomas More Society during the trial, expressed his disbelief regarding the judge’s decision, labeling it “ridiculous.”

The incident was documented in surveillance footage recorded outside the abortion clinic. Blythe, a large man at over six feet tall and weighing about 250 pounds, was involved in a conversation with another pro-life worker, Dick Schaefer, just before the assault.

The video showed Blythe suddenly charging at Schaefer and tackling a large flowerpot, falling back onto the elderly man.

Witnesses reported that Schaefer was unresponsive for several minutes. Crosby, wearing a pro-life t-shirt, attempted to assist his friend.

However, Blythe blocked Crosby’s path. He then pushed Crosby to the ground and struck him in the head before delivering a kick to his face.

A local news report captured the disturbing nature of the incident, which left both victims severely injured.

According to a pro-life supporter, John Roswell, Crosby suffered a broken bone in his right cheek and extensive damage behind his eyes, requiring hospitalization.

Crosby later recounted that he was blinded in his right eye for nine days following the assault and still experiences discomfort and a feeling of something foreign in his eye.

A year after the attack, Blythe was arrested and faced multiple charges, including first-degree assault. He was released shortly after. During his trial in February 2025, Blythe’s defense attorney claimed that his client did not intend to inflict serious injury.

The defense also attempted to downplay the attack by referring to the victims as “old white men.” The narrative presented by Blythe’s defense further complicated the perception of the case.

Ultimately, a judge convicted Blythe of second-degree assault but did not reach a unanimous verdict regarding the first-degree charge against him. This led to Crosby anxiously waiting for a retrial.

Retrial Outcome

During the retrial for the first-degree assault charge in June, the same judge maintained her earlier conclusion, declaring Blythe not guilty due to what she perceived as Crosby’s intentions during the incident. This sparked frustration among those advocating for harsher consequences.

Crosby explained that the court’s interpretation suggested that his actions could have provoked Blythe’s aggression. He expressed anger, stating, “I’m a bad guy for trying to help my friend.”

Upon sentencing, which occurred on a Thursday, Roberts read Crosby’s victim impact statement, expressing disappointment at the lack of a severe punishment for Blythe’s actions. Instead of prison time, Blythe received a year of home detention and three years of probation, along with requirements for anger management and substance abuse screenings.

Both Crosby and Roberts were upset with the outcome. They felt that justice had not been served properly and that Blythe’s relatively light sentence was a disservice to Crosby and Schaefer, who faced lasting injuries.

Crosby, visibly frustrated, questioned, “What about my happiness?” He added that the situation exemplified a broader failure of justice for those involved in pro-life advocacy. Despite this, he also reflected on the positive experiences that had emerged from the aftermath of the attack, as he continued to provide support to expectant mothers.