An Atlantic City man accused in a 2019 beating could face upgraded charges after the victim died.
Isaiah Butler, now 20, is accused of conspiring with three others to beat a man who was sleeping on a bench on the Atlantic City Boardwalk.
He and the two juveniles were originally charged municipally with simple assault in the July 17, 2019 attack, which was captured on surveillance video, according to the affidavit of probable cause. The fourth suspect has not been identified.
The municipal prosecutor forwarded the case to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office after the victim reached out in late August, claiming he was suffering from worsening headaches and spinal bleeding from the assault.
"We didn't know the case existed," Assistant Prosecutor Louis Casadia told Judge Sarah Beth Johnson at a detention hearing Thursday. "(The municipal prosecutor) said she believed the case should be upgraded to an aggravated assault based off the new information that was provided by the victim and his family."
At the time the affidavit was signed Sept. 27, 2019, the unnamed victim was in a coma. He has since died, according to information released in court.
Casadia told the judge that a decision has not yet been made on whether the charges will be further upgraded.
Surveillance video shows the suspects striking the victim while one of the teens appears to film it with a cell phone, the affidavit states.
The victim received multiple closed-fist punches to the head, according to the current charges.
Butler, who does not have a record, was released by the judge, and must check in with the court weekly. He also cannot commit any crimes while on release, including drinking, the judge warned, noting he is underage.
