Nebraska Teen Avoids Prison for Brutal Attack on Homeless Man Captured on Video

A 19-year-old Nebraska man has been sentenced to three years of probation for his role in a brutal assault on a homeless man, an attack that was filmed and shared on social media. Orion Garman pleaded no contest to a second-degree assault charge, avoiding prison time. His co-defendant, Joshua Williams, also 19, faces a separate trial after his charge was reduced to assault causing bodily injury.

The incident occurred in May when Garman and Williams, along with other friends, entered an abandoned building in Omaha where Sean Johnson, a homeless man, was living. According to reports, the group used pipes and boards with nails to attack Johnson. A recording of the assault, which included racist slurs and threats, was shared on Instagram by Garman.

During the attack, Johnson, who reportedly lived in the abandoned Salvation Army building, screamed in pain and stated, "That hurts, stop. I quit." His phone was also stolen during the assault. A resident of Omaha, Julia Dueling, reported the incident to the police after seeing the video and collecting evidence. She expressed outrage online, stating, "If these are your f****g kids, come get them. All morning I've been on the phone with the Omaha Police Department, hospitals and more." Dueling submitted all necessary evidence to authorities.

Douglas County District Court handed down Garman's sentence on Tuesday. Charges of robbery, use of a weapon to commit a felony, and false imprisonment against Garman were dismissed. Williams is currently awaiting trial.

Tamara Dwyer, Omaha's homeless services coordinator, described the video as heartbreaking and shocking. She emphasized the importance of treating individuals experiencing homelessness with dignity and compassion. "We have a lot of people who do reach out to the mayor's hotline out of concern for people, which is great because we want to be concerned rather than villainizing folks that are on the streets," Dwyer told WOWT.