Louie Sanchez and Marvin Norwood are the two men who attacked San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow in a Dodger Stadium parking lot on March 31, 2011, leaving him with permanent brain damage. Sanchez pleaded guilty to felony mayhem and was sentenced to eight years in state prison. Norwood pleaded guilty to assault likely to produce great bodily injury and received four years. Both later drew additional federal prison time on firearms charges, and both have since been released.1ABC7. Bryan Stow, Giants Fan Attacked at Dodger Stadium
What They Did to Bryan Stow
Stow, a 45-year-old paramedic from Santa Cruz, was walking through the Dodger Stadium parking lot after Opening Day wearing a Giants jersey when Sanchez and Norwood, both in Dodgers jerseys, jumped him from behind. Stow was punched and his head hit the pavement. While he lay on the ground, Sanchez kicked him in the head three times.2ESPN. Two Men Admit Guilt in Dodger Stadium Attack on Bryan Stow
Stow suffered a fractured skull so severe that a friend at the scene reported being able to see his brain. He went into cardiac arrest five times in the hospital and was placed in a medically induced coma that lasted nine months. Part of his skull had to be surgically removed to relieve swelling.3ABC7 News. Giants Fan Bryan Stow Attack at Dodger Stadium Today Update The criminal complaint later stated that Sanchez had “cut and disabled Stow’s tongue, put out an eye and slit his nose, ear and lip.”2ESPN. Two Men Admit Guilt in Dodger Stadium Attack on Bryan Stow
The pair fled the scene. Sanchez’s sister Dorene, who was also Norwood’s partner, drove the group away that night. She was arrested on suspicion of being an accessory, but the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office declined to file charges, concluding she “has not committed any crime.”46ABC. Dorene Sanchez Not Charged in Stow Beating
Who They Were Before the Attack
Both men had prior histories of violence.
Sanchez was 29 at the time of his arrest, stood 5-foot-11, and had neck tattoos. His record included a 2003 guilty plea for inflicting bodily injury on a spouse or partner, a 2004 conviction for carrying a loaded firearm, a 2005 drunk driving arrest, and a 2006 felony conviction for evading a police officer.5Los Angeles Times. Bryan Stow Beating Suspects Charged A former girlfriend had sought a restraining order against him in 2006, alleging he had beaten her repeatedly. As a juvenile, he had been detained at age 16 for willful discharge of a firearm.6KTLA. Man Convicted in Dodger Stadium Beating of Bryan Stow Begs for Mercy From Federal Judge
Norwood was 30, stood 6-foot-4, weighed 250 pounds, and worked in construction. In 2006, he had pleaded guilty to a felony count of inflicting bodily injury on a spouse or cohabitant, drawing three years of probation and 118 days in jail.7ABC30. Bryan Stow Beating Suspects Arrested He also had a 2000 conviction for disturbing the peace.5Los Angeles Times. Bryan Stow Beating Suspects Charged
Both men were arrested on July 21, 2011. Each was initially charged with mayhem, assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury, and battery with serious bodily injury, with bail set at $500,000. Sanchez faced two additional misdemeanor battery counts stemming from a separate altercation at the stadium that same day.5Los Angeles Times. Bryan Stow Beating Suspects Charged
The State Pleas and Sentences
After more than two years of pretrial proceedings, Sanchez and Norwood entered negotiated guilty pleas on February 20, 2014, in Los Angeles Superior Court before Judge George Lomeli.
Sanchez, identified by prosecutors as the “primary aggressor,” pleaded guilty to one felony count of mayhem and was sentenced to eight years in state prison, with credit for 1,086 days already served. Norwood pleaded guilty to assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury and received four years; time already served largely accounted for the sentence. Remaining charges were dropped as part of the agreement.8NBC Los Angeles. Bryan Stow: Louie Sanchez, Marvin Norwood Sentenced Had the case gone to a jury, Sanchez faced a maximum of eleven years and Norwood a maximum of eight.9OC Register. Dodger Stadium Beating Pair Hears Sentences, Menacing Words
Prosecutors said they took the deal to give Stow’s family closure rather than risk a trial. Deputy District Attorney Michele Hanisee characterized the two as “just weekend jerks” rather than gang members, adding that “they thought this was well within their parameters of team rivalry.” She said Stow was effectively “serving a life sentence in a wheelchair and diapers” and would never recover.10CBC. Louie Sanchez, Marvin Norwood Sentenced in Giants Fan Attack
Judge Lomeli called the attack “absolutely brutal, absolutely vicious” and the pair “complete cowards.” He told them: “You are the biggest nightmare for individuals who attend public events. One day you will be released, and Mr. Stow will forever be trapped in the condition you left him in.”11KSBW. Bryan Stow’s Two Attackers Plead Guilty, Sentenced by Judge The judge also snapped at Sanchez during the hearing for smirking.10CBC. Louie Sanchez, Marvin Norwood Sentenced in Giants Fan Attack
Stow’s father, David Stow, told the pair: “What you both did at Dodger Stadium was cowardly. The time you serve is insignificant to what Bryan must endure.” His sister Erin told Sanchez and Norwood: “Every morning you get to wake up and get out of bed and live. Bryan can’t even get up out of bed.”11KSBW. Bryan Stow’s Two Attackers Plead Guilty, Sentenced by Judge
Federal Firearms Charges
The state sentences were not the end of it. When police searched Norwood’s home in Rialto during the July 2011 arrest, they found a cache of weapons hidden in a crawl space above the garage: a 12-gauge shotgun, two semiautomatic rifles, a pistol, and a revolver.12Los Angeles Times. Second Bryan Stow Attacker Faces Weapons Charge Both men were convicted felons barred from possessing firearms. In March 2014, a federal grand jury indicted them, each on one count of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.13CBS News Los Angeles. Men Convicted in Stow Beating Indicted on Federal Gun Charges
A secretly recorded jailhouse conversation figured in the federal case. In the recording, Sanchez allegedly discussed the weapons, saying he would “take all the heat, for the heats,” using slang for the guns.14SFGate. Man Convicted in Bryan Stow Beating Now Faces Gun Charge
On May 7, 2015, U.S. District Court Judge Fernando Olguin sentenced Sanchez to six years in federal prison. Because he was already serving his eight-year state term, the practical effect was roughly three additional years of incarceration, followed by three years of supervised release.15Las Vegas Sun. Man Who Beat Giants Fan Gets 3 More Years Prison for Gun Charges Later that month, Norwood was sentenced to two and a half years in federal prison on the same charge, plus three years of supervised release and substance abuse treatment.16KTLA. 2nd Bryan Stow Attacker Marvin Norwood Gets 2½ Years on Federal Gun Charges
Where They Are Now
Both Sanchez and Norwood have since been released from custody.1ABC7. Bryan Stow, Giants Fan Attacked at Dodger Stadium Neither has apologized to Stow, who has said in public appearances that he has chosen to forgive them.17ABC7 News. Giants Fan Bryan Stow Speaks to Daly City Students About Bullying
The Dodgers Civil Verdict
Separate from the criminal cases against Sanchez and Norwood, Stow’s family sued the Los Angeles Dodgers and former owner Frank McCourt over stadium security. On July 9, 2014, a Los Angeles Superior Court jury awarded approximately $18 million in damages.18CBS News Los Angeles. Jury Reaches Verdict in Bryan Stow Trial
The jury assigned 25 percent of the liability to the Dodgers organization and 75 percent to Sanchez and Norwood, while finding McCourt personally not liable. The Dodgers were held responsible for the full $14 million in economic damages covering medical expenses and lost earnings, on a finding that the team’s inadequate security was a “substantial factor” in Stow’s injuries. The remaining $4 million for pain and suffering was split, with the Dodgers responsible for 25 percent and the two attackers for 75 percent. Jurors unanimously rejected a defense argument that Stow shared responsibility because his blood-alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit for driving.19Augusta Chronicle. Jury Finds Dodgers Negligent in Giants Fan Bryan Stow’s Beating According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the verdict was later settled.20San Francisco Chronicle. Giants Fan Bryan Stow Finds Purpose in a Life