An L.A. County Superior Court judge sentenced a former baseball player at The Master’s University to a suspended sentence on Monday for assaulting a regular at Doc’s Inn back in February, according to court records.
As part of a previously agreed-to plea deal, Judge Robert Sanchez DuFour gave Owen Dewrell Hayes, 22, a suspended sentence of four years, which is a penalty on the high end of the range for assault with a deadly weapon.
The plea deal also mentioned a pair of allegations in his crime, according to the minute order from the hearing at L.A. Superior Court in San Fernando: that the victim, described by bar staff as an elderly man who was well-liked by staff and never caused a problem, received injuries as a result of the assault; and that the victim was particularly vulnerable due to the age difference. The admission also puts a strike on Hayes’ criminal record.
Hayes was also placed on formal probation for two years, in addition to completing 30 days of work for the California Department of Transportation, 26 anger-management classes and a stay-away order from the victim.
A statement in court Monday from a victim’s representative indicated the victim had made a full recovery and was satisfied with the deal.
In the criminal complaint filed April 1, Hayes was accused of: assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury, with an allegation the victim was more than 60 years of age; elder abuse; and vandalism causing greater than $400 in damage.
Hayes pleaded not guilty to the accusations in April.
The attack happened Feb. 28, and by March 10, the owners of Doc’s Inn released footage from the attack in an attempt to identify the assailant.
Staff for the Lyons Avenue bar described the incident as an unprovoked assault.
Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station deputies investigated the reports and then arrested Hayes on March 17 on suspicion of assault and elder abuse.
Shortly after Hayes’ arrest, TMU announced he was no longer a student.
He’s due back in court Nov. 5 for a progress report and a restitution hearing.
