Bryan Stow beating suspects may plead guilty, sources say

Two men charged with severely beating San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow at Dodger Stadium on Opening Day 2011 are due back in court Thursday, and several law enforcement sources said guilty pleas are possible.

Marvin Norwood, 30, and Louie Sanchez, 31, face charges of mayhem, assault and battery, and inflicting great bodily injury in the beating of Stow, a 44-year-old father of two.

The March 31 attack left Stow, a Northern California paramedic, with serious head trauma and a permanent disability that means he will need care for the rest of his life.

The incident drew national attention and calls for police, city officials and the Dodgers to tighten stadium security and better protect fans. Stow was attacked as he and three other Giants fans, all Bay Area paramedics, walked through the parking lot after the Dodger win. Witnesses at a preliminary hearing last year described boorish, drunken and profane behavior directed against Giants fans by Sanchez.

Stow said that he hoped they “code,” paramedic slang for having a heart attack, and then the man later identified as Sanchez shoved Stow. The paramedics took off to avoid a confrontation but a few minutes later, the two assailants accosted Stow and his friends.

Witnesses said Stow was sucker-punched by the man in a Dodger jersey. Stow fell on the ground, fracturing his skull and receiving permanent brain damage. Once on the ground, Stow was kicked in the ribs and head.

The sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said pleas were possible at the hearing but stressed that any final decision would be made in the courtroom.No details were immediately available about any type of plea deal.