Watch CBS News

Defendant Pleads Guilty To Sucker-Punching Man With Cerebral Palsy Outside 7-Eleven

CHESTER COUNTY, Pa. (CBS) -- A man pleads guilty in a Chester County courtroom to sucker-punching a man with cerebral palsy.

Barry Baker pleaded guilty Monday to simple assault and flight from apprehension for punching Michael Ryan outside a West Chester 7-Eleven in May.

The entire incident was caught on camera and showed Baker mocking and imitating Ryan.

People Spend More Time On The Toilet Than Exercising, Study Finds

Last week, Baker tried to duck the facts of the case, claiming he had met Ryan hours earlier at Barnaby's.

In court on Monday, prosecutors cornered Baker.

Not only did video show Ryan was never there, but Chester County Assistant District Attorney Cynthia Morgan said bar patrons have to swipe their IDs to enter, and Ryan wasn't in their system.

"When you drink a little bit, sometimes your memory gets a little fuzzy. They were at Barnaby's for a while. The incident could have happened with somebody entirely different," said Baker's attorney Tom Purl.

The Ryan family found Baker's fabrication offensive.

"It was really unbelievable that he would be as stupid to think that somebody's gonna buy that story when there's facts and video that proves otherwise. I don't know what he was trying to do by backing into a corner like that, I didn't understand what he was doing, but as they say it's hard to fix stupid," said Patrick Ryan, the victim's father.

Man Charged With First-Degree Murder After Victim Beaten To Death With Hammer

Michael Ryan says with the exception of a few court dates, life's been normal in the wake of this humiliating scene.

"No, my life's been the same as it was before that day," said Ryan.

Baker's two guilty pleas mean the time he'll spend behind bars is at the mercy of the court.

Baker could see two to four years, but he also has a probation violation, which could carry a maximum of five years.

Baker's sentencing won't come for at least two months.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.