Brothers plead guilty to punching boy in viral video attack

By Victoria Spilabotte

CREATED Dec. 5, 2012

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  • "All I want for my release is to be on house arrest so I'm home with my family," said the 13-year-old boy who admitted in court Wednesday he's the kid in a viral video who sucker punches his classmate. Video by ktnv.com

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Las Vegas, NV (KTNV) -- "All I want for my release is to be on house arrest so I'm home with my family," said the 13-year-old boy who admitted in court Wednesday. He's the kid in a viral video who sucker punches another boy.

"Every time I see it happen, I flinch because it's my child," the victim's mother Elaine Sams said. She said her son is now recovering from the hit.

The viral video landed her son's attackers in court. The 13-year-old and his 15-year-old brother both pled guilty to battery.

"He absolutely acknowledges that he was wrong and that he should not have done this," attorney J. Daniel Hastings said. He represents the 15-year-old brother.

In the video, shot on an iPad, the 13-year-old throws the first punch.

"It's clear that this appeared to be a planned attack," Cynthia Herren with the District Attorney's Office said in court. "They were already videotaping prior to the first punch being thrown."

The bullying happened sometime after school at the apartment complex where the brothers live. Sams said her son was taking a shortcut home through the complex when he encountered the other boys.

"He just doesn't understand why it had to happen to him," Sams said. "I told him it's a case of the wrong place wrong time."

Sams said her son barely knows the brothers. The 13-year-old's lawyer said it's the older brother that encouraged him to punch the boy.

"He appears even hesitant, when he initially decides he wants to strike the victim," attorney Carol Griffin said. Griffin represents the 13-year-old boy.

Whatever happened, Sams said she is glad the boys owned up to what they did. As for punishment? She said that's the courts decision.

"That's all I was really looking for, whatever the courts deems fit is what the courts deem fit," Sam said.

The judge ordered the boys stay detained for the next two weeks until they are back in court. Police said two other boys have been arrested for videotaping the attack. They are charged with conspiracy to commit battery.