A man connected to the far-left hate group Antifa was been sentenced to nearly six years in prison after he was caught on video savagely striking a man on the head with a bludgeon during a riot in Portland, Ore. in June.
The victim of the assault, Adam Kelly, sat in court behind his attacker, 24-year-old Gage Halupowski, on Nov. 1 for the sentencing in connection with the June 29 incident that left him with a concussion and more than two dozen staples in his scalp.
Wearing a mask, Halupowski used a collapsible baton to land blows to the head of Kelly after Kelly rushed to help an older man who was under mob attack outside The Nines Hotel on Southwest Morrison Street in Portland.
James Stock, 21, and Maria Dehart, 23, were also among the arrestees after the incident, in which eight others were harmed including three law enforcement officers and conservative journalist Andy Ngo.
Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney Melissa Marrero said in court that Halupowski’s attack on Kelly was “completely unexplainable, completely avoidable and didn’t need to happen.”
“This was an extremely chaotic and rapidly unfolding situation,” Marrero said, explaining that Kelly was kicked and punched while already on the ground. “Pepper spray and other weapons were used throughout this violent clash.
“The sound of the blow was sickening and caused people who heard and saw it to gasp. The intentionality of Mr. Halupowski was extremely egregious and the injuries to Mr. Kelly could have been much worse.”
Marrero said Kelly was lucky to have survived the assault and noted that riot charges were initially being considered alongside a first-degree assault charge, before Halupowski was convicted for only the assault in the second degree, Oregon Live reported.
Unlawful use of a weapon, attempted assault of a public safety officer and interfering with a peace officer charges were also dropped as part of a plea agreement.
Halupowski was also accused of punching a police officer in the arm during his arrest.
