80-year-old pedophile punched in court by ‘extremely angry’ victim after he avoids prison

Richard Gross was handed a suspended sentence for molesting a child for 7 years.

A Nevada man who says he was molested by his babysitter from the age of eight years old slugged the 80-year-old convicted pedophile in the courtroom after learning he would be spared prison time.

Tylor Fu, now 29, was arrested on a misdemeanor battery charge after jabbing Richard Gross in the face during his sentencing on Oct. 2, authorities said.

In an interview with 8NewsNow last week, Fu admitted he felt “extremely angry” when Gross’ plea deal was announced.

“I know he’s old, but that doesn’t change anything like that, doesn’t change the damage that he caused, the horrific effects that I had to live through for decades, and it was not justice at all,” Fu told the station.

Gross was leaving the courtroom with his wife and attorney when Fu stood up and punched the octogenarian in the face, causing him to fall to the floor, according to an arrest report obtained by 8NewsNow.

Gross later complained he briefly passed out and had to be taken to a hospital. His wife told the police his glasses were broken.

Following his arrest, Fu released a statement through his lawyer expressing remorse for his violent outburst – but also seeking to justify it.

“While it was on some level cathartic, my actions in court were not appropriate,” the statement read in part. “I was overwhelmed by emotion at the hearing, which got the better of me. I was and am deeply troubled by the fact that Richard Gross received no prison time, but I do understand these things happen sometimes in criminal proceedings.”

Gross, a friend of Fu’s family, was initially charged with 26 felony counts of sexual abuse stemming from years of molestation. But as part of an agreement with prosecutors, he was allowed to enter an “Alford plea” to a single count of attempted lewdness with a child under 14.

An “Alford plea” is a type of guilty plea in which the defendant does not admit to committing a crime but agrees that the prosecution has enough evidence to secure a conviction.

Under the plea deal the now convicted molester, against whom Fu had testified in court, was handed a suspended sentence of 60 to 180 months in state prison.

Only if Gross violates the conditions of his probation would he be sent to prison to serve out his sentence.

Gross is prohibited from using alcohol and marijuana; he must live at least 1,000 feet from schools and other facilities and venues used by children. He must also register as a sex offender with lifetime supervision.

Fu claimed Gross began sexually abusing him while babysitting when he was 8 years old, and the molestation continued until he was 15.

“It just doesn’t make sense how someone can abuse a child multiple times and just walk away without any prison time,” Fu said.

Fu only reported Gross to the police in 2019 after his wife showed him an article about sexual abuse, he said.

“I really tried to put it away and move on and be strong, but as you get older, you start to realize what went wrong more, and I saw exactly where my problems were coming from,” Fu added.

In 2021, Fu filed a civil lawsuit against Gross and his wife, accusing them of assault and battery, false imprisonment, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligence.

Fu claimed Gross molested him at his home, in his pickup truck and on a camping trip. His wife allegedly “knew of her husband’s predilections towards minor children/boys” but did nothing to protect Fu.

As he molested Fu, Gross is said to have warned him, “Do not tell anyone, including your mom” — and said that he wanted them both to feel good, according to the complaint.

A trial date has been set in the lawsuit for Feb. 5, 2024.

Meanwhile, Fu is due in court on Dec. 7 to answer for the battery charge.