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Pinkberry Founder May Have Assaulted Transient Because of a "sexually explicit tattoo"
Young Lee, one of the founders of the popular Pinkberry froyo chain was arrested Monday on an outstanding warrant stemming from allegations he assaulted a transient with a tire iron. A few details have emerged about the alleged attack, including that some racy body ink on the homeless man may have raised Lee's ire.
The alleged assault took place on June 15, 2011 on the Vermont off-ramp of the 101 Freeway, according to City News Service. While stopped at the light, Lee was approached by the homeless man, who was panhandling.
Prosecutors say Lee was offended by the transient's sexually explicit tattoo. It is not clear what the tattoo depicted, or why specifically it provoked Lee, but the district attorney's office describes Lee as having felt disrespected by the tattoo. Consequently, Lee and an unidentified accomplice in the vehicle allegedly chased the man and "beat him down" with a tire iron.
In the attack, the transient suffered cuts to his head and a broken left forearm.
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Lee, who was convicted in 2001 of felony possession of a controlled substance and misdemeanor carrying a loaded firearm, faces up to seven years in state prison if convicted, according to the District Attorney's Office. He severed his relationship with Pinkberry in 2010.
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