The Unforgiven Past: 5 Key Facts About Mark Wahlberg's Hate Crimes And The Pardon He Dropped

The controversy surrounding Mark Wahlberg's past is a recurring topic that continues to follow the Hollywood star, even decades later. Today, the full record of his racially-motivated attacks as a teenager in Boston is easily accessible, detailing a series of violent incidents that resulted in a felony conviction and jail time. The actor's efforts to reconcile with his past, most notably through a highly-publicized pardon request, became a major news story, raising questions about accountability, redemption, and whether celebrity status should erase a serious criminal record. This article, updated in December 2025, provides a deep dive into the documented facts, the victims' perspectives, and the latest status of his bid for official forgiveness. The complex narrative of Mark Wahlberg’s early life is often framed as a classic rags-to-riches story, but it is inextricably linked to a dark chapter involving violent, race-based crimes. While the actor has gone on to achieve global fame in films and business, his juvenile record remains a critical part of his public identity, continually resurfacing to challenge the narrative of a fully-reformed man. Understanding the full scope of these events requires looking beyond the headlines to the specific court documents and the voices of those he harmed.

Mark Wahlberg: A Short Biography and Criminal Record Profile

Mark Robert Michael Wahlberg was born on June 5, 1971, in Dorchester, Boston, Massachusetts. He is the youngest of nine children in a working-class family.

• Full Name: Mark Robert Michael Wahlberg
• Born: June 5, 1971 (Age 54 as of late 2025)
• Birthplace: Dorchester, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
• Occupations: Actor, Producer, Businessman, Former Rapper (Marky Mark)
• Spouse: Rhea Durham (m. 2009)
• Notable Early Career: Member of the group Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch.
• Key Criminal Incidents (Juvenile):
  • 1986: Civil Rights Violation for throwing rocks and shouting racial slurs at a group of Black children.
  • April 1988: Assault and Battery/Attempted Robbery on two Vietnamese men.
• Conviction: Felony conviction for assault.
• Sentence Served: 45 days in prison (of a two-year sentence) at Deer Island House of Correction.
• Pardon Status: Request filed in 2014, officially withdrawn in 2016.

The Documented Timeline of Racially-Motivated Attacks

The history of Mark Wahlberg’s hate crimes is not a single incident but a pattern of behavior documented by the Massachusetts legal system. These events occurred when he was a teenager, before his rise to fame as "Marky Mark" and later as a major Hollywood actor.

The 1986 Incidents and Civil Rights Violation

In June 1986, at the age of 15, Wahlberg and a group of friends were involved in an incident that led to a civil rights lawsuit. The group chased three Black children, throwing rocks and shouting racial slurs, including the phrase "kill the ns". The attack was only stopped when an ambulance driver intervened. A separate incident in the same year involved Wahlberg assaulting an African American woman, Mary Belcher, while yelling a racial epithet. Belcher later spoke out against the idea of Wahlberg receiving a pardon, stating that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts should not "forgive and forget hate crimes".

The 1988 Felony Assault and Attempted Murder Charge

The most severe and widely-reported incident occurred in April 1988. At 16 years old, Wahlberg attempted to steal two cases of beer from a convenience store in Dorchester. During the attempted robbery, Wahlberg attacked two Vietnamese men:

• Victim 1: Thanh Lam. Wahlberg approached Thanh Lam, who was carrying two cases of beer, and struck him on the head with a five-foot-long wooden stick, knocking him to the ground. Wahlberg later told police that he had hit "that gook" and "Vietnamese f*cking sh*t".
• Victim 2: Hoa Trinh. As he fled, Wahlberg punched a second man, Hoa Trinh, in the face, causing him to be permanently blinded in one eye.

Wahlberg was initially arrested and charged with attempted murder. He pleaded guilty to felony assault and was sentenced to two years in prison, though he ultimately served only 45 days at the Deer Island House of Correction. His conviction was later reduced to criminal contempt.

The Controversial Pardon Request and Its Withdrawal

In 2014, Mark Wahlberg made a formal request to the Massachusetts Parole Board for a full pardon for his 1988 felony conviction. His petition argued that a pardon would officially recognize his decades of charitable work, his successful career, and his efforts to turn his life around, allowing him to pursue certain business licenses he was currently restricted from obtaining.

Victim Reaction and Public Scrutiny

The pardon request immediately reignited public and media scrutiny. The move was widely criticized as an attempt to use his celebrity to erase a serious, racially-motivated crime from his permanent record. The reactions from the victims were mixed and complex: * Mary Belcher (1986 Victim): She publicly opposed the pardon, stating that he should not be forgiven for hate crimes simply because he is a celebrity. * Hoa Trinh (1988 Victim): In a surprising turn, Hoa Trinh, the man blinded in one eye, publicly forgave Wahlberg in 2014, stating that the actor had paid for his crime and should be pardoned.

The Official Withdrawal: Latest Status

The most critical and recent development in this saga is the withdrawal of the pardon request. In 2016, two years after filing the petition, Wahlberg officially dropped his request for a pardon. The decision to withdraw came after significant public pushback and a lack of inclination to act on the request by then-Governor Deval Patrick and current Governor Charlie Baker. By officially dropping the petition, Wahlberg effectively ended the state's review process, leaving his felony conviction on his record. This action confirmed that the legal status of his past crimes would remain unchanged, despite his public apologies and charitable work.

Mark Wahlberg's Ongoing Efforts at Atonement and Reconciliation

Since the incidents, Wahlberg has repeatedly expressed remorse and apologized for his past actions. He has often spoken about his troubled youth and how his faith and family helped him reform his life. In a 2020 interview, as the conversation around his past resurfaced during the Black Lives Matter movement, Wahlberg stated that he has spent the last 30 years trying to redeem himself and make amends, though he acknowledged that the work is ongoing and the crimes cannot simply be erased. He has also been involved in various philanthropic efforts, particularly focused on at-risk youth and inner-city communities, which he often cites as part of his penance. The debate over Wahlberg's past remains a central theme in discussions about celebrity, second chances, and racial justice. While many praise his efforts at reform and his success as an inspirational story of turning one's life around, others argue that his fame has allowed him to largely escape the long-term consequences of his violent, racially-charged actions, especially given the lasting trauma inflicted on the victims. The withdrawal of his pardon request, while concluding the legal chapter, ensures that the historical record of his hate crimes remains a permanent and defining part of his public identity.

Relevant Entities and Keywords for Topical Authority: Juvenile Record, Felony Conviction, Attempted Murder Charge, Civil Rights Violation, Massachusetts Parole Board, Hoa Trinh, Thanh Lam, Mary Belcher, Dorchester, Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch, Racial Epithets, Black Lives Matter, Deer Island House of Correction, Redemption Narrative, Public Scrutiny, Charitable Work.