KHTS Radio Santa Clarita Radio – Santa Clarita News
A teen arrested Monday for punching a 71-year-old man in a Valencia park after being asked to stop smoking plead not guilty on Tuesday, officials said.
Sponsored Articles
The suspect, 18-year-old Tanner Smith, of Saugus, was charged with one misdemeanor count each of battery on an elder and battery, according to a statement by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office.
On May 2 around 2 p.m., Smith allegedly punched the elderly victim in the face because he had asked the group of teens Smith was with to stop smoking near young children, according to Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station officials.
The group allegedly laughed and insulted the victim, who then took a photo of the activity, according to prosecutors.
Smith then allegedly punched the victim in the face, knocking him to the ground.
Deputies responded to the incident on the 23700 block of Via Gavola at approximately 2:15 p.m., but Smith had already fled the scene.
Based on the picture taken by the victim, deputies were able to identify the suspect. He was located Monday and taken into custody without incident.
Bail was set at $20,000 and a protective order was issued to keep Smith away from the park and the victim.
Smith is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on May 23 at the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Santa Clarita Branch. If convicted as charged, he faces a possible maximum sentence of one year in county jail and a $1,000 fine.
The case remains under investigation by the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.
Chris McCrory and Kimberly Beers contributed to this story.
Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, or drop us a line at [email protected].
It seems to me that using the term “elderly” in this context might not be appropriate. “Elderly” connotes frailty – and it sounds like this gentleman was rather courageous. Some of my good friends are 71-year-olds who are out hiking, climbing and backpacking. I hope to be one in 11 years or so. If someone calls me elderly at that point, I’ll wave my ice axe at them. Kudos to the “victim” and to the Sheriff’s department for arresting the entitled thug.
I say lock him up. What a pathetic example of our local and very blessed young people who do not know how good they have it living in this area. Its inconceivable to think anyone would stand by and just watch someone who could not defend themselves be assaulted. This is a sad world we live in where there is no respect for elders or even another human being whatsoever. If parents do not stand up and teach their children respect early on…this is a clear example of what the innocent people out there are forced to deal with.
Just look at his facebook page and you will see how screwed up the guy is, his grandmother is smoking dope, he admits his father is a racist, the guy didn’t grow up in a good household. It makes me feel good that I had GREAT LOVING PARENTS. I am not making excuses for what he did but he had bad role models
And that fact that he is a meth head in and out of rehab! What a great example that grandma is setting. Unbelievable!
Well, I guess that rules out Parental Responsibility to teach their young simple decency and that violence is
not the way to solve a disagreement! Perhaps that and anger management should be part of his sentence.