The victim of a 2012 hate crime in Austin, Texas received the finishing touches on his six-figure dental reconstruction surgery this week.
After having nine of his teeth knocked out in an an attack during gay pride weekend in Austin, Andrew Oppelman was taken under the care of Dr. Gary Cash, D.D.S., who performed the entire procedure completely free of charge.
According to reports, Oppelman and his friend Nick Soret were ordering pizza at a food truck when they were attacked by Lambert Borgardt at random (well, Borgardt “accused Soret of hitting on him.”) Soret was the initial target of the attack but Oppelman took most of the damage after stepping in to help his friend.
Austin-based Dr. Cash heard the story on the news and offered to reconstruct Oppelman’s mouth — a job that took a year and a half and included new upper implants — pro bono.
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Cash told KVUE the Victim’s Relief Fund helped to pay for a huge portion of the job, but he ultimately did it because the “people have been so warm and welcoming” to him since he moved there three years ago. “I figured that’s not the way someone should be treated from out of town.”
Borgardt reportedly fled the scene after the attack and remains free to this day. He is currently awaiting trial on charges of third degree felony assault.
hyhybt
Watch someone try to make his generosity sound like a bad thing.
yaoming
Hate crime sucks, but isn’t “six figure” dentistry a problem, too? Why do dental procedures cost so much in the US?
rickhfx
Good question.
Stache1
After Lambert Borgardt is found guilty of the crime his next punishment will come with a civil trial. I can see big monetary damages here.
ProfessorMoriarty
This old news item is popping up again so I thought I’d check and see what ultimately became of the attacker.
Unfortunately, this being Texas, he avoided jail. 10 years probation and 200 hours of community service. In Texas, this is apparently considered adequate justice for bashing nine of someone’s teeth out.
Texas (and I say this as a native) sucks.
http://www.kvue.com/story/news/local/2014/12/17/man-pleads-guilty-to-assault-in-roppolos-pizza-attack/20549249/