Man convicted for beating woman, 81

SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - A San Francisco man was convicted Wednesday on several felony counts stemming from a July incident in which he beat an 81-year-old woman with a motorcycle helmet, the District Attorney’s Office announced.

The incident occurred on July 23, when 54-year-old Carl Parkes grew angry with the woman for taking a section of a newspaper from the steps of his Gough Street residence to complete the crossword puzzle inside.

As the woman continued to make her way down the street with the help of a cane, Parkes called for her to come back. As she turned around, he came up from behind, hitting her repeatedly in the head with the motorcycle helmet and yelling at her to not come back to the street.

A couple driving by witnessed the incident and called for help as Parkes began to walk back toward the residence. An ambulance arrived and transported the woman to the hospital, where she received staples in her head for lacerations caused by the beating. She has since recovered from her injuries.

Parkes was arrested and taken into custody in lieu of $400,000 bail. He was unable to make bail and was in jail until his trial began last week.

After a seven-day trial, a jury found Parkes guilty of misdemeanor battery, felony elder abuse and assault with a deadly weapon.

“This verdict sends a message that if people are going to take advantage of a vulnerable victim like an elderly lady by assaulting them, we are going to prosecute them to the fullest extent of law,” said Alan Kennedy, prosecutor for the elder abuse unit of the District Attorney’s Office.

“This was a great overreaction by the defendant and he showed tremendous anger. We don’t tolerate this kind of behavior or misconduct against elders in our community.”

Because of his crimes, Parkes is eligible for a maximum sentence of five years in state prison. He is scheduled for sentencing on Jan. 19.

eeconomides@examiner.com

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