ALBANY, OR (KPTV) -
A teenager was severely beaten and left for dead in a quiet Albany neighborhood.
That teen is now taking the horrible experience and trying to turn it around to do something good.
It was supposed to be a quick walk to his friend's house, but last Monday night, that walk almost turned deadly for Joshua Howland.
"As far as I'm concerned he was beaten and he was left for dead," said Debbie Braconnier, Howland's mom.
Howland, 19, said he doesn't remember what happened. The last thing he remembers doing was walking to a friend's place, but he never made it.
"The next think I know I woke up in the hospital," Howland said.
Braconnier rushed to her son's side after she got a call from him that night.
"There was this mumbled voice on the phone and the words out of his mouth were 'I've just woken up and I think I've been beaten,'" Braconnier said.
She was able to track her son down, walking on Southeast Mountain View Drive near Firwood Circle.
That's where she found him with his face covered in blood.
"At the hospital, the doctor came out and said that if it had been any longer it could have been fatal," Braconnier said.
Albany police said Chancellor Wise, 22, jumped out of the bushes and attacked Howland during the walk.
They said he robbed him of $4 and beat Howland in the face, leaving him with severe injuries.
"My cheek bones is broken, two breaks around my eye and I have a brain hemorrhage as well as a severe concussion," Howland said.
Both Howland and his mom don't understand why he was targeted and why something like this would happen in Albany.
"I can't believe it. It's something I watch on the news not something that happens to me or our family or anything like that," Braconnier said.
"It's the last place you'd expect it to happen, especially next to such a nice neighborhood right next to South Albany High School," Howland said.
Howland doesn't have medical insurance, so he's holding a fundraiser to try and collect some money to pay for all his medical bills.
He does plan to use any leftover money to start a foundation and help others who may end up in a similar situation.
Police said they were able to track down and arrest Wise after an officer developed some information on the case.
Wise is now facing charges of robbery and assault.
Howland and his family are holding a bake sale starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29 at the Albany Albertsons at 1177 Waverly Dr. SE.
Howland's fundraising site can be found:
http://www.indiegogo.com/Joshuahealthcare?a=669913
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