- Mark Wahlberg is seeking a pardon from the state of Massachusetts for an assault he committed in 1988 that left a man blind in one eye
- Wahlberg, now 43, served 45 days in prison and was tried as an adult even though he was just 16 years old at the time
- The actor, who has always been vocal about his troubled past, is now a married father who attends church every day
Since
it was revealed Mark Wahlberg is seeking a pardon in Massachusetts for
assaults he committed as a teen, the actor is well aware that the court
of public opinion has weighed in on why he wants one and whether he
deserves it.
'Everyone
has an opinion and has a reason why they think I'm doing it,' said the
actor Wednesday at the New York premiere of his new movie 'The Gambler,'
opening December 25.
'I've
been working very hard to correct a lot of mistakes that I made since
the day that I woke up and realized, 'You know what? I need to be a
leader instead of a follower,'' he said.
However, some Asian Americans are wary of his motivation and wondering why he has never personally apologized.
Pardon? Mark Wahlberg's application
seeking a pardon for a previous assault is being met with skepticism by
some Asian Americans, wary of his motivation and wondering why he has
never personally apologized
Troubled past: Mark Wahlberg served 45 days in prison after he blinded a man in a 1988 assault
A
group called 18MR, short for 18MillionRising.org, which promotes civic
engagement among Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States, has
voiced its opposition to the pardon. So far almost 3,000 signatured have
been collected.
A document was filed November 26 requesting the pardon by Wahlberg.
It
states in 1988, when Wahlberg was 16, he hit a man in the head with a
wooden stick while trying to steal two cases of alcohol in front of a
convenience store near his family's home in the Dorchester section of
Boston.
He punched another man in the face while trying to avoid police.
Court
documents reveal just how horrifying the 1988 attack was - including
startling racial slurs he shouted at the victim and others.
Wahlberg,
who served 45 days in jail after the assault, says his record continues
to impact him and could prevent businesses, such as restaurants, that
work with him from getting licenses.
Changed man: Now, Wahlberg is hoping to get a pardon for his past actions
New start? Mark Wahlberg and Rhea
Durham attend 'The Gambler' premiere. Wahlberg wants to become an LAPD
reserve cop. But a felony conviction from his youth may block his
attempt to become a volunteer
Scene of the crime: The liquor store where Wahlberg attacked a man with a stick and then ran away
He
insists he has come a long way since April 1988, when he attacked Thanh
Lam with a five-foot stick while yelling slurs at him in order to steal
the two cases of beer he was carrying.
Wahlberg admits in the application that he was high on marijuana and narcotics at the time.
He
ended up being convicted as an adult of assault and other charges, and
he was sentenced to three months in jail. He said he was released after
serving about 45 days.
Wahlberg,
43, who went on to be a rapper and then A-list actor who's been
nominated for an Oscar, said he isn't trying to use his public persona
to sway the decision.
'In
no way shape or form was I trying to use my celebrity or success to
say, 'Well, I feel entitled to get this because of the fame and
fortune.'
Instead he said 'Every day I wake up trying to be the best person I can be.'
He also tries to set an example for kids growing up in tough neighborhoods like he did.
'I've
worked really hard to be a positive influence for kids growing up in
communities like mine who don't really have a chance, and try to provide
an opportunity for them to be more successful and that's why I'm doing
it.'
Family guy: Wahlberg (above with wife
Rhea Durham and three of his children and Kevin Hart) is now committed
to multiple charities and attends church every day
The actor said he's never shied away from talking about his troubled past.
'And
it's not like the story hasn't been talked about. I've been talking
about it for 25 years. You read any piece that's ever been done on me
it's really the same old kind of story and for me to kind of be able to
move on from that and move forward and continue to show kids that
anything's possible.'
But
it was his appearance in the 1996 film Boogie Nights that really
changed things, catapulting Wahlberg into the critically-acclaimed box
office juggernaut that he is today.
'I
am deeply sorry for the actions that I took on the night of April 8,
1988, as well as for any lasting damage that I may have caused the
victims,' Wahlberg wrote in the pardon application.
'Since
that time, I have dedicated myself to becoming a better person and
citizen so that I can be a role model to my children and others.'
Pardon? It will ultimately be up to
newly elected Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker (above) to decide
whether or not Wahlberg should be pardoned
He
devotes much of his time and a large amount of his money to various
charities, including the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation and the
Dorchester Boys and Girls Club.
He is also a family man now, married to former model Rhea Durham and the father of four children, and attends church daily.
The
Board of Pardons will investigate the petition to decide if it warrants
a hearing before it is recommended to the governor who by that time
will be the recently elected Charlie Baker.
The
Massachusetts Parole Board would have to review Wahlberg's case and
make a recommendation to the governor, who can grant pardons.
Pardons
rarely are issued in Massachusetts. Governor Deval Patrick has not
approved one in his nearly two terms in office. Nor did former Governor
Mitt Romney.
Wahlberg said his commitment to being a good person and role model stands, no matter the outcome.
'I will continue to do that whether the pardon is granted or not,' he said.
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