A man has been sentenced to seven years in prison for attacking and brutally beating a 79-year-old man who helped his ex-girlfriend escape from a domestic dispute.
On Sept. 2, 2016, 25-year-old Robert Mallette went to his ex-girlfriend's home in Bowie, Maryland, and attacked her, according to prosecutors.
The woman ran out of her front door and into the street looking for help, when she saw a neighbor, Robert McCamish, drive by. She jumped into McCamish's vehicle and he made a right turn.
Mallette pursued them and rammed into McCamish's vehicle, prosecutors said. The woman then jumped out to run to another car for help. That's when Mallette opened McCamish's driver's side door and began brutally punching him.
McCamish's chin was separated from his face, his left ear had to be reconstructed and he has had multiple surgeries.
A former Air Force officer and pilot since 1959, McCamish has spent his retirement volunteering and flying patients who cannot afford air travel to hospitals that can treat their illnesses.
"I've been very happy that I've been able to apply the skills I have to help other people," McCamish said.
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But the concussion McCamish sustained in the attack could jeopardize his pilot's license. The FAA is reviewing whether McCamish is well enough to fly again.
"I would be very very disappointed if this is the end of my flying career," McCamish said. "I've just really got my fingers crossed that the FAA will decide that I am healthy enough to fly an airplane again."
Mallette was sentenced to seven years in prison and 5 years of probation for the attack -- a sentence that is higher than state guidelines.
"I think it's a fair decision. I think that it's important that somebody like that is not out in society," McCamish said.
