Controversial Verdict in Assault Trial of Garret Doty Accused of Beating Former SF Fire Commissioner
In a highly debated trial, 24-year-old Garret Doty has been acquitted of all charges related to the brutal assault on former San Francisco fire commissioner Donald Carmignani earlier this year. Doty, an unhoused individual, was accused of attacking Carmignani with a metal pipe near Magnolia and Laguna Streets in the Marina District on April 5.
Doty faced charges of assault with a deadly weapon, battery causing serious bodily injury, and assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury. Carmignani reportedly suffered a fractured skull, broken jaw, and lacerations to his face and head during the assault that occurred around 7:20 p.m.
Doty’s arrest took place later that evening near Laguna and Lombard Streets, but he was released a few weeks later when Carmignani failed to appear in court to testify. Carmignani’s absence was attributed to his ongoing recovery from surgery on his skull and jaw.
Doty, represented by a public defender, claimed self-defense, alleging that Carmignani had previously sprayed unhoused individuals with bear spray on multiple occasions. This assertion was vehemently denied by Carmignani and his legal team.
During the trial, a press release revealed that Carmignani’s ex-mother-in-law testified, under subpoena, that he had been the aggressor in pepper or bear-spraying unhoused individuals. Carmignani did not testify during Doty’s trial but invoked the Fifth Amendment during a preliminary hearing.
The defense argued that Doty acted in self-defense, emphasizing a surveillance video that showed Carmignani approaching Doty first. A witness reported hearing Carmignani threatening to stab and kill Doty during the confrontation.
Carmignani’s father explained to KTVU that his son had confronted three homeless individuals camping in front of their home, requesting them to move. Following their relocation, Carmignani confronted them again.
Public defender Kleigh Hathaway, reacting to the verdict, stated that the case was one of self-defense from the outset and should never have been prosecuted. Hathaway argued that Carmignani initiated the altercation and did not back down.
District Attorney Brooke Jenkins released a brief statement expressing gratitude to the jury for their service and respecting their decision. The verdict has sparked discussions around self-defense, the use of force, and the complexities surrounding incidents involving unhoused individuals.