Baltimore, Md. — A man has been sentenced to a year of home detention and three years of probation following his conviction for assaulting two elderly pro-life activists. The incident, which occurred outside a Planned Parenthood clinic in May, was captured on surveillance video and sparked heated responses from both victims and advocacy groups.
On Thursday, Baltimore Circuit Judge Yvette M. Bryant decided against a 10-year prison term requested by prosecutors for Patrick Brice, 28, who was found guilty of two counts of second-degree assault and reckless endangerment. The judge’s ruling drew a sharp reaction from one victim, 73-year-old Mark Crosby, who expressed his frustrations about his treatment and rights during the sentencing.
During the incident, Brice, who claimed he intended to engage in a debate about sin, reportedly lost his temper after a perceived racial remark made by another victim, 84-year-old Richard Schaefer. According to eyewitness accounts, Brice violently shoved Schaefer into a flowerpot and subsequently attacked Crosby when he interceded.
In court, Brice characterized his actions as a momentary lapse of judgment, stating he “snapped.” He also extended apologies to both victims, following what has been described by many as an unprovoked assault that left one victim with severe injuries.
As part of his sentencing, Brice is required to undergo anger management, drug and alcohol screenings, and continue therapy. Meanwhile, Crosby reportedly sustained permanent damage to his right eye from the attack, highlighting the violent nature of the encounter.
Critics have deemed the sentence lenient, with Tom Brejcha, president of the Thomas More Society, calling the attack a “vicious, targeted assault.” Brejcha further condemned the notion that the attack was a simple disagreement over differing views on abortion, emphasizing the lasting impact it has had on the victims.
Crosby and Schaefer were peacefully praying outside the clinic when they were attacked. Facebook posts by Jay Walton, president of the Baltimore County Right to Life chapter, depict the aftermath, showing Crosby visibly injured and requiring hospitalization.
Reports from police detail that both victims were engaged in expressing their pro-life beliefs when Brice confronted them aggressively. Eyewitnesses corroborated the violent nature of the assault, noting that it stemmed from a heated discussion about pro-life and pro-choice perspectives.
Crosby’s attorney further argued in court that the incident highlighted a troubling disrespect for the law and human dignity. In a statement read by his attorney, Crosby expressed the shock he felt at the brutality directed toward him and his companion, emphasizing that they had been in a vulnerable position during the altercation.
As reactions continue to unfold, the case raises broader discussions about the confrontations that can arise from political and ethical divisions, and the importance of addressing violence in such contexts.