Giants fan Stow's attackers sentenced

Two men pleaded guilty Thursday to the 2011 incident outside of Dodger Stadium that left a Giants fan seriously injured, according to The Associated Press, and were sentenced.

Defendant Marvin Norwood pleaded guilty to one count of assault likely to produce great bodily injury to Bryan Stow, the 45-year-old Giants fan who attended Opening Day in Los Angeles, and was sentenced to four years. Co-defendant Louie Sanchez pleaded guilty to one count of mayhem that disabled and disfigured Stow and was sentenced to eight years in prison with credit for 1,086 days.

"I don't know the mentality of the two gentlemen who were sentenced, but to sit in a cell for four and eight years [over the outcome of a ballgame], it really doesn't make a lot of sense and I hope that's what people start to see," said Giants reliever Jeremy Affeldt, who has visited Stow on several occasions and spoke to the crowd before the Giants played the Dodgers at AT&T Park nine days after the attack.

"Does it really make that much sense to cause that much pain to a family and cost yourself four and eight years or more? It's not worth it. Like I said [three] years ago, the rivalry's on the field. And after the game's over, there's no more rivalry."

According to deputy district attorney Michele Hanisee, Norwood could be released immediately because his credit for time already in custody seemed to account for at least the majority of his sentence. However, federal authorities have charged both men with weapons possession, which could add 10 years in prison to their sentences.

The Dodgers released a statement following the sentencing: "We are pleased that the culpable parties have finally accepted responsibility for their actions and have been sentenced for their crimes."  

Sanchez and Norwood acknowledged their involvement after being arrested during a number of secretly recorded phone calls.

Norwood told his mother over the phone that he was involved, saying, "I will certainly go down for it."

Sanchez acknowledged he attacked a Giants fan, saying: "I socked him, jumped him and started beating him," according to a transcript of the conversation.

The men were unaware they were being recorded.

"You still can't take back what's happened," said Giants manager Bruce Bochy. "But hopefully for the family, it gives them a little sense of justice for what happened to their son."

Corey Maciel, who attended the game with Stow, said he saw Stow being attacked and threw himself over Stow to prevent further injuries.

"As soon as he was punched, he was unconscious and fell back on his head," Maciel testified. "He was unable to brace himself. I saw his head bounce off the concrete. I heard the crack."

Stow was then kicked in the head at least three times and again in the torso, according to the testimony.

Stow, who returned home last spring after two years in hospitals and rehabilitation centers, still requires physical therapy and remains severely disabled.

"Hopefully it brought some closure," said Affeldt, who recently donated $25,000 toward Stow's recovery as part of third-base coach Tim Flannery's ongoing fundraising via concerts and CD sales. "I don't know what the family was hoping for with the sentence. This is just a step along the way in [Stow's] journey."

A civil suit by Stow against the Dodgers and former owner Frank McCourt is still pending.