49°
Both Scott Smith, a 30-year-old Mount Vernon firefighter, and 32-year-old Andrew Nappi of Eastchester entered Alford pleas in Baltimore City Circuit Court charges of misdemeanor second-degree assault.
Under an Alford plea, the defendant acknowledges prosecutors have enough evidence for a conviction, but also allows a defendant to maintain innocence.
The incident occurred during a Sunday, Oct. 2 game between the Ravens and Oakland Raiders at M&T Bank Stadium.
At halftime, Bauer was in line with his wife at a concession stand when he first encountered Nappi and Smith, and a verbal altercation ensued, the state attorney for Baltimore City said.
Later, as Bauer, his wife and friends proceeded to leave the game, Bauer encountered Nappi and Smith again while descending the southwest ramp from the 500 level to the 400 level, the attorney said.
During that encounter, the two parties had a hostile exchange about their teams of choice, followed by Smith approaching Bauer and yelling obscenities in his face. Some pushing and shoving ensued, but was diffused, the attorney said.
Bauer and his friend waited a period of time before proceeding, allowing the Smith and Nappi to continue down the ramp. However, as Bauer and his friends continued down the ramp from the 400 level to the 300 level, Nappi and Smith were waiting, according to the attorney. As Bauer turned the corner, Smith charged at him, shoving him in the chest, immediately followed by Nappi delivering one punch to Bauer's jaw. Bauer fell back and struck his head on the concrete, according to the attorney.
Bauer suffered a skull fracture and brain swelling, from which he has not fully recovered, according to his family. The injuries resulted in him having 24-hour medical care for the first month of his recovery.
"What took place while families and friends attempted to continue their day watching a football game was inexcusable," said State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby. "No verbal altercation should ever escalate to assault, especially that which results in a person being rushed to Shock Trauma for a traumatic brain injury. I hope that the perpetrators of this reckless act learn from this incident, and the victim and his family find solace in the fact that the perpetrators were held accountable."
Click here to follow Daily Voice White Plains and receive free news updates.
