MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The man previously charged with the attempted murder of a Memphis community leader at a Whitehaven golf course has pleaded to a lesser charge, according to court records.
The Shelby County D.A. previously said that Wesley Caldwell was indicted June , 2023, on charges of attempted second-degree murder and aggravated assault. But according to court records, Caldwell pleaded to attempted aggravated assault and was sentenced to four years, all suspended, which means he will serve probation for four years.
Caldwell was originally charged with aggravated assault, however the NAACP and others hoped the charges would be increased when it went to the Grand Jury.
In a statement to ABC24, the D.A.'s office said, "After obtaining the video evidence initially absent, Caldwell was permitted to enter an open plea in court, seeking probation from the judge as his statutory right. Due to his clean record and the emergence of additional evidence, the judge approved Caldwell's request for probation."
NAACP Memphis President Van Turner said Mark Coleman suffered “significant brain injuries” when he was hit in the head with a golf club at the Links golf course in Whitehaven.
According to Memphis Police, on Dec. 3, 2022, Coleman said he was assaulted by Caldwell when he walked over to retrieve a ball that was hit over to another hole. According to the affidavit, Caldwell picked up the ball and threw it in another direction, and before Coleman could say anything, he was struck in the head.
The affidavit said Coleman tried to walk away but became disoriented, and was taken to the hospital for emergency surgery for bleeding on the brain.
"Mr. Coleman has been a fixture in Memphis civic life for some time," The NAACP said in a previous statement. "While we continue to pray for Mark, we will also continue to demand justice for Mark and for all of those impacted by violence in our community."