Man Sentenced for Assaulting Pro-Life Activists Outside Baltimore Clinic
A 28-year-old individual was sentenced to one year of home confinement and three years of probation for attacking two pro-life advocates outside a Planned Parenthood clinic in Baltimore.
Baltimore Circuit Judge Yvette M. Bryant dismissed prosecutors’ request for a 10-year prison term for Patrick Brice, who was convicted of two counts of second-degree assault and reckless endangerment stemming from the May 2023 incident.
One of the victims, Mark Crosby, 73, expressed his frustration in court, questioning, “What about my rights and my well-being?” as Judge Bryant exited the courtroom.
During the incident on May 26, 2023, Brice stated that he approached Richard Schaefer, 84, intending to engage in a debate about sin. However, he claimed he lost control after perceiving a racial comment from Schaefer, according to multiple reports.
Security footage depicted Brice pushing Schaefer into a flowerpot and subsequently assaulting Crosby when he attempted to intervene.
In court, Brice admitted, “I just snapped one day,” and offered apologies to both victims.
As part of his sentence, Brice is required to complete anger management classes, participate in drug and alcohol screenings, and remain in therapy. Reports indicate that Crosby sustained permanent damage to his right eye due to the assault.
Tom Brejcha, president of the conservative legal organization Thomas More Society, condemned the attack, stating, “This was not a mere disagreement over abortion. It was a targeted and brutal attack on two elderly individuals whose only ‘offense’ was praying for women considering their options.”
He further described the incident as cowardly and cruel, emphasizing that the consequences do not match the severity of the crime.
Following the attack, images shared by Jay Walton, president of the Baltimore County Right to Life chapter, depicted Crosby—drenched in blood with a swollen eye and a “Pro Life” shirt.
Walton recounted on a GoFundMe page that Crosby was violently assaulted while praying peacefully outside the clinic, highlighting his dedication to supporting women in crisis pregnancies.
A redacted police report noted that Crosby told investigators he had been standing in support of pro-life beliefs when Brice attacked Schaefer, prompting him to intervene.
Witnesses corroborated the narrative, with some describing the confrontation as a debate regarding pro-life and pro-choice stances.
Crosby’s attorney, Terrell Roberts, read a statement on his client’s behalf, calling the incident a “gross disregard for the law and human decency.”
Crosby expressed shock at the brutal treatment of the elderly, noting that they were defenseless during the attack.
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