Two Young Men Sentenced for Assaulting Homeless Man

Two young men have faced consequences for their involvement in a shocking attack on a homeless man, according to a notable county official.

Boaz Winslow Brigham, 21, and Malachy Damian Hayes, 18, pleaded guilty to charges of elder abuse after they assaulted 68-year-old Douglas Mark while he was asleep in a park picnic area in Arroyo Grande.

The judge handed down a sentence of four years of formal probation, following nearly a year in county jail. Both are currently in custody with the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office.

This sentence, however, was less than the seven years in prison that San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow had recommended. The judge considered their age, clean criminal records, and their decision to plead guilty before making a ruling.

Dow expressed disappointment, stating, “This is one of the most shocking incidents I’ve ever experienced. We were quite disappointed that the judge did not impose a prison sentence as we had requested.”

Surveillance footage revealed the young men approaching the sleeping man at around 1:30 a.m. on March 20. Hayes urinated on Mark, waking him up, and when Mark tried to get up, Hayes started hitting him in the head.

In a later interview, Mark recalled thinking it was merely a sprinkler. Having slept in that park for three years, it was one of the few places he could stay overnight and charge his phone.

“When I think about it, it makes my blood boil because it’s so demoralizing,” he said. “I can’t even do that. I’m too crazy to even think.”

Brigham then joined in, kicking and punching Mark as he lay on the ground. Mark attempted to reach for their feet, but one of them pulled his hair. Notably, Brigham recorded the attack on his cell phone.

During the assault, Brigham shouted, “I just pulled an R. Kelly because I was mad at the homeless,” referring to the notorious hip-hop artist. At one point, Hayes kicked so forcefully that his shoe flew off.

Mark eventually lost consciousness and, upon waking, called the police. “They basically left me for dead,” he told a reporter, recounting the severity of his injuries, which included broken ribs and a severe concussion.

Following the assault, the two suspects shared another video on Snapchat, joking about the incident and showcasing the blood on their hands and shoes from the encounter.

Mark expressed his frustration that the pair received only probation instead of jail time. He continues to deal with headaches and memory issues stemming from the attack. “This kid is dangerous,” he remarked. “We’re going to do everything we can legally to do to him because he’s a danger to society.”

Despite everything, Mark has found temporary shelter, thanks to the kindness of park officials. Early in his life, he had worked in set design for Rob Reiner’s Lorimer Studios and as an architectural landscaper, but, sadly, a series of personal challenges led him to live on the streets.