A Baltimore man received a surprisingly light sentence after violently attacking two elderly pro-life advocates outside a Planned Parenthood clinic. Patrick Brice, 28, was sentenced to one year of home confinement and three years of probation for the brutal assault on 73-year-old Mark Crosby and 84-year-old Richard Schaefer. The incident left Crosby with serious facial injuries and multiple fractures.
The attack occurred as Crosby and Schaefer were engaged in sidewalk counseling outside the clinic. Surveillance footage shows Brice arguing with Schaefer, accusing him of bothering "vulnerable people." Moments later, Brice tackled Schaefer into a potted plant and then turned his aggression toward Crosby, punching and kicking him in the head.
The confrontation was captured on video, which has since been shared widely. In the footage, Brice can be heard making inflammatory remarks during the argument. He told Schaefer to "quit bothering vulnerable people," to which Schaefer responded by asserting that "it’s a child," referring to the unborn. Following the physical attack, Schaefer was left on the ground for a minute before attempting to stand, while Crosby was rendered unconscious for several seconds before regaining his composure.
During the sentencing hearing, Brice’s attorney claimed that his client believed Schaefer had made a racially charged comment, a claim that Schaefer denied. Prosecutors had sought a ten-year prison sentence for Brice, but Judge Yvette Bryant opted for the much lighter punishment of home detention, allowing Brice to travel for work.
The case has sparked outrage among pro-life advocates and raised questions about the legal system’s response to violence against individuals based on their beliefs. The leniency of Brice’s sentence has drawn criticism, highlighting concerns over the treatment of violent crimes in similar contexts.
