Gerard Dunne is to be arraigned on felony assault and battery charges for a June incident at an art gallery on Mulholland Highway.
By Knowles Adkisson / The Malibu Times
Gerard Dunne, the nephew of Mel Gibson, is to be arraigned Aug. 10 on assault charges stemming from a June incident in which a local man was severely beaten after an art gallery opening in Malibu, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Dunne, 27, is being charged with one count of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to produce great bodily injury and one count of battery, Deputy District Attorney Mara McIlvain said on Friday.
Topanga resident Kevin Fraser told The Malibu Times he was sleeping in a camper behind Malibu Mountain Gallery on Mulholland Highway after the gallery’s opening June 10. Shortly after midnight on June 11, Fraser said two men entered the camper, one of whom he identified as Dunne. Dunne allegedly began punching Fraser. Fraser said he fell onto the floor, and Dunne continued to kick him.
Fraser said Dunne left after the second man who arrived with Dunne, whom Fraser described as a “lookout,” alerted him that people outside were approaching the camper.
Fraser said he sustained a broken nose and a broken rib, and required 40 stitches to his face from the attack.
Lost Hills/Malibu Sheriff’s deputies arrested Dunne June 11 at 1:31 a.m. and booked him at 1:50 a.m. at the Lost Hills/Malibu station, with a bail set at $30,000, according to the Sheriff Department’s online inmate information portal. He was released on June 12, after the bail was paid.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department refused several requests by The Malibu Times to release an arrest report or booking photo for Dunne.
Before the beating occurred, Fraser said he had spent the day of Friday, June 10, at the gallery opening to display an interactive art piece of his, but did not see Dunne there. After the gallery opening, Fraser said he went to gallery owner Rio Dejarnette’s camper behind the gallery to sleep, after which the attack occurred.
Dejarnette confirmed the account to The Malibu Times, although he said he was not present during the beating.
Dejarnette told The Malibu Times that Dunne and two friends were at the opening, and said Dunne appeared to grow jealous of attention Fraser was receiving for his exhibit from female patrons.
Frasier told The Malibu Times he plans to pursue a lawsuit against Dunne.