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Pinkberry Co-Founder Will Stand Trial for Assault on Transient
The co-founder of the Pinkberry frozen yogurt shop chain has been ordered to stand trial on charges he assaulted a transient with a tire iron near a freeway off-ramp last year.
47-year-old Young Lee, whose relationship with Pinkberry was severed in 2010, pleaded not guilty in January on accusations he went after Donald Bolding, a transient who approached him asking for money while Lee sat in his car on the Vermont Avenue off-ramp of the 101 Freeway in June 2011.
Lee was allegedly offended by Bolding's sexually explicit tattoo, and subsequently chased him down and attacked him with a tire iron.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Terry A. Bork denied the defense's motion to dismiss the case against Lee, according to City News Service. Deputy District Attorney Hilary Williams described the evidence presented during the preliminary hearing as "overwhelming,'' telling the judge that Bolding was unarmed and did not instigate the attack.
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Lee has been free on $60,000 bail since his arrest in January. He is due back in court August 2 for arraignment. Bolding, who is jailed on unrelated drug charges, has also filed a civil suit against Lee.
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