Frozen yogurt magnate convicted in brutal tire-iron attack of homeless man

On Friday, a Los Angeles jury found Pinkberry co-founder Young Lee guilty of assault with a deadly weapon in the beating of a homeless man.

Lee was convicted of beating a transient near the Vermont exit of the 101 Freeway after the man approached Lee asking for money. The prosecution claimed that words were exchanged before Lee and an unnamed other man returned to their rented car, removed a tire iron, then chased down and beat the homeless man.

Lee's attorney claimed that the homeless man threatened Lee, but prosecutors argued that it was a sexually explicit tattoo on the victim's arm that incurred Lee's wrath.

Prosecutors claim that Lee considered the tattoo a sign of disrespect, and demanded the homeless man drop to his knees and apologize for bearing it. Even though the man consented, prosecutors claim Lee kicked and beat upon the man with a tire iron.

Pinkberry ended ties with Lee after news of the assault broke.

Lee could be sentenced to as many as seven years in prison.

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