Pinkberry co-founder arrested for alleged assault (KTLA-TV) |
LOS ANGELES (KTLA) -- Pinkberry yogurt co-founder Young Lee pleaded not guilty to assaulting a transient.
47-year-old Young Lee was arrested earlier this month at LAX in connection with the June 2011 incident.
The alleged assault happened in June 2011 on the Vermont Avenue off-ramp of the Hollywood Freeway, police said.
Lee was stopped at a light when he was approached by a homeless man seeking money, police said.
Prosecutors say Lee was offended by the transient's sexually explicit tattoo.
Words were exchanged, and Lee and another man in the car chased the homeless man and "beat him down" with the tire iron, police Capt. Paul Vernon said.
The victim suffered a broken left forearm and cuts to his head.
According to a statement by the district attorney's office, Lee felt disrespected by the tattoo.
Officials did not provide a detailed description of the tattoo.
Lee faces up to four years in prison with the possibility of an additional three years for a special allegation of causing great bodily harm.
He is currently free on $60,000 bail.
The judge ordered Lee to surrender his passport at his next court hearing.
In the meantime, the judge will allow Lee to travel to Korea for business.
Lee founded Pinkberry with Shelly Hwang in 2005.
He ended his relationship to the chain in 2010.
47-year-old Young Lee was arrested earlier this month at LAX in connection with the June 2011 incident.
The alleged assault happened in June 2011 on the Vermont Avenue off-ramp of the Hollywood Freeway, police said.
Lee was stopped at a light when he was approached by a homeless man seeking money, police said.
Prosecutors say Lee was offended by the transient's sexually explicit tattoo.
Words were exchanged, and Lee and another man in the car chased the homeless man and "beat him down" with the tire iron, police Capt. Paul Vernon said.
The victim suffered a broken left forearm and cuts to his head.
According to a statement by the district attorney's office, Lee felt disrespected by the tattoo.
Officials did not provide a detailed description of the tattoo.
Lee faces up to four years in prison with the possibility of an additional three years for a special allegation of causing great bodily harm.
He is currently free on $60,000 bail.
The judge ordered Lee to surrender his passport at his next court hearing.
In the meantime, the judge will allow Lee to travel to Korea for business.
Lee founded Pinkberry with Shelly Hwang in 2005.
He ended his relationship to the chain in 2010.
