Artis Mack, the brother of multi-division female world champion Claressa Shields, has reached a plea deal with Michigan authorities in connection with a sucker punch that left boxing trainer James Ali Bashir with serious facial damages and bleeding on the brain last October.
According to mlive.com, Mack, who was originally charged with one count of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, pleaded guilty down to a single count of misdemeanor aggravated assault. The offense is punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a $1,000 fine, or both.
Pretty much a slap on the wrist smh
While some may debate this outcome, the key point to remember is Mack did not get off completely. He has been held accountable. Keep in mind this article has not included a civil suit for monetary compensation should the victim pursue that road. A slick civil attorney could even dig further into this and nail Clarissa’s camp as a whole for compensation since her brother was working and representing Clarissa at that time in preparation for her fight. Yes, could happen to any of us should we lose our cool in confrontations or act like a fool for attention. Some states (and federal level) in the union would/may not allow Mack to possess any firearms for any domestic assault or a felony charge. Why is that important to bring up? Hmmm, who waits (like 20 minutes) for the cops after dialing 911 when someone breaks into your home? I rely on my Glock 17 for that purpose. Nice to defend one’s home if needed….
Could happen to any of us should we lose our cool? For real?
Most people have a degree of self control. If you’re the type to punch people in the head when they aren’t looking, regardless of the context, then you’re a liability that needs locking up. If you’re reckless enough to do it in front of the cameras then you’re even more of a lost cause.
Chris, in this day and age, anything is possible. Can you define the word “most” in your statement please? Ever
commit any degree of crime and never get caught? You know, cheating on your taxes with inflated deductions as an example. Whether we get offended over goofy stuff, do conscious petty things, or we act out in stupidity, things happen. Nobody is perfect and yes, some people are prone to making stupid decisions and carry out bad practices. The differences are some people have more sense than others. Are you perfect? I am not sticking up for Clarissa’s brother, but making a general statement. As for the legal system, no, it’s not perfect either. Nothing is perfect in this world and nothing surprises me either.
I think my statement is pretty clear, but I can elaborate, sure.
‘Most’ people won’t punch a senior citizen in the head when he’s not looking, even if said senior citizen has a big mouth. The minority that would are bad apples. It’s not comparable to inflating deductions on your tax return so that seems an odd comparison. Irrelevant even.
Nobody is perfect. People make bad decisions. The legal system is flawed. All of these things are true. That doesn’t change the fact that this guy deserves a harsher punishment.
I’ve read that he has prior convictions for assault, weapons charges, and arson. If that’s true, then it’s not a bad decision on his part… it’s a dangerous pattern of behaviour from a dangerous criminal. He should be dealt with severely. End of story.
I agree, the system seems to be not fair sometimes in how offenders are treated with plea deals. Unfortunately, it hits harder upon us when we can relate to the situation in any manner. Shields’ brother should be thankful that the prosecutor in the case did not hang him to dry. Thank you for your response and time.
Thats not the end of the story because none of us was there to know what actually happened. I came up with James and can still think objectively. I know Bashir can be aggressive with his words and emotions.
There was obvious hostility and beef going on at that event. Men get really violent when their women are threatened. And Bashir was beefing with a female.
He should not have been on Clarissa’s turf beefing with her camp. You must be aware of your surroundings and show restraint on both sides. Not only Mack but somebody should have talked to Bashir also.
yeah but you don’t suckerpunch someone, only a lowlife does that
It is amazing how this thread/post just keeps expanding on this subject. NJ Boxing, thank you for your input. There are so many pieces of the pie to examine here no matter one’s opinion.
What??? If I hurt somebody that badly, I don’t think I could get off easily like that. And, I don’t have any previous records. Insane.
Going after the dude in a civil trial, or not, he got off way too easily for the crime he’s committed.
Take your complaint to the prosecutor in this case that is who ok’d the plea deal with the judge’s approval. The defense lawyer for Shields’ brother came to terms with this team of legal council and each party rendered a decision.
He caused bleeding on the brain and he’s getting away with a misdemeanor charge? Smdh
He has a list of previous, he sucker punches a sixty something year old man, and he’s eligible for MAX a year in the clink? That’s bloody shameful. Hang your head judge. People like that need to be made an example of.
I personally would like to review the FOIA records in this case to see where this decision was made with a sound mind.
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Clarissa is scum herself. She’s a over rated female boxer with 2 dubious gold medals won because of the lack of competition in female boxing now she brags about being able to beat the Keith Thurmans of the world bla bla bla give me a break.
Does not surprise me one bit that her brother did that cowardly act himself. Low life family.
Now let me understand this, he attacks a 72 year old man by hitting him in the back of his head, the old man has bleeding on the brain and serious lacerations, and this P.O.S has the charges reduced to a misdemeanor? Now unless i’m in a different reality it APPEARS to me that not only did he attack him from behind but it was his intent to do some real damage if not attempted murder. Bashir was in the hospital and it was touch and go for awhile there. And now this thug gets a possible sentence of a year in the can and fine of a G note? How in any REALITY is this justice???? As for Shields she needs to be heavily fined and lose her license for a couple of years. And whoever was involved in this poorly supervised event needs to be be heavily fined as well.
Agree completely. Shields needs to be sanctioned hard for this. Her brother was a member of her camp and viciously assaulted a man, while in her employ. Now I don’t expect criminal charges on her, she is civilly liable and this behavior is a black eye for the sport. If Kubrat Pulev can be sanctioned for kissing a reporter, this shows far, far worse.
Only way to see the in-depth documents in this case is thru the FOIA. Yep, it’s free in most cases much like most media outlets get their information to report to you over many cases. A friend of mine in journalism reviewed the Kobe Bryant sexual assault case that settled out of civil court. Hmmmm…….Major media dodged that story alot……Wonder why?
And people wonder why violent criminals are walking amongst us freely. Because they are aloud to. The victim has been badly let down even if there was provocation.
I can only hope that karma works it’s magic in regards to this scumbag and the entire camp he is from…
On the face of it this seems a poor sentence. And reading the comms below , if he has previous and if Bashir is 72 it seems worse.
No one knows the whole circumstances thing but Bashir has always seemed like a quiet sort of guy.
What I will say is that the judge maybe was hamstrung with the sentence anyway. Over here in the UK I’ve heard judges say that the sentence (when passing a lenient sentence) was the max they could impose.
By the way did anything happen to Errol Spence for his reckless driving last year?
On the face of it this seems a poor sentence. And reading the comms below , if he has previous and if Bashir is 72 it seems worse.
No one knows the whole circumstances thing but Bashir has always seemed like a quiet sort of guy.
What I will say is that the judge maybe was hamstrung with the sentence anyway. Over here in the UK I’ve heard judges say that the sentence (when passing a lenient sentence) was the max they could impose.
By the way did anything happen to Errol Spence for his reckless driving last year?
I’m glad he didn’t get charged with anything serious. That man deserved what he got!
When I first heard this, I assumed Shields hood rat family was at fault. But once I saw the entire footage. The old man was running his mouth and being disrespectful to dudes family. The man was just standing up for his sister, I am happy he got of lightly. U can’t run your mouth, then play the age card.
he couldn’t straight up punch him – a suckerpunch, c’mon
Forget talk about civil suits for monetary settlements. Only the lawyers collect and the victim takes it on the chin again. The American justice system is largely a scam.
What judge ok’d this decision, Adalaide Byrd?