In a story that dates back to 2012, an Austin hate-crime victim was given a new reason to smile. After having nine of his teeth knocked out in a brutal assault, Austin resident Andrew Oppelman had his teeth fixed for free by Austin dentist Gary Cash.
According to reports, Oppelman and his friend Nick Soret were “randomly attacked” during Gay Pride Weekend in 2012: “The men were waiting for a slice of pizza at a mobile food truck in the Warehouse District when police say Lambert Borgardt accused Soret of hitting on him. Surveillance cameras caught the moments Borgardt attacked Soret and then Oppelman when he stepped in to help his friend.
Oppelman had nine of his teeth knocked out. While this is certainly a horrifying and disturbing story, Dr. Gary Cash recently did his part to give it a heartwarming and happy ending. Over the last year and a half, Dr. Cash has provided free dental reconstruction, including implants for Oppelman with the financial help of a victim’s relief fund.
According to an interview with Kvue.com, Dr. Cash felt he needed to step in and help better represent his city right away when he heard about the shocking assault on Oppelman.“People have been so warm and welcoming to me here. I figured that’s not the way someone should be treated from out of town,” said Dr. Cash. Oppelman is certainly appreciative of Dr. Cash’s generous assistance, but, understandably enough, he is still feeling the emotional repercussions from the event in September of 2012:
“It’s just been hard on the inside more for me than the outside, not because of how people see me, but how I feel about myself,” said Oppelman in the interview. While an Austin judge has decided not to charge Lambert Borgardt with a hate-crime due to a lack of hard evidence, he will be charged with second degree aggravated assault and battery.
Although it is shocking and infuriating to see these kinds of assaults occur in our own community, it is refreshing to see someone like Dr. Gary Cash step in and do his best to help Oppelman heal from the traumatic occurrence. At Freedom Bail Bonds, we have a genuine care and concern for those in and around our own community, and it is always encouraging to see others share and display that same passion that we strive to exemplify on a daily basis.
In addition, if you have any questions about the bail bond process or need assistance getting yourself or a loved one out of a jam, feel free to give us at Freedom a call day or night, we’ll treat you with the respect everyone in the Austin community has a right to feel.
