DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Life has been a never-ending struggle for 45-year-old Garry Blough, a Navy veteran who lives in Daytona Beach, and his wife since police said he was attacked by three young men in February when he asked them to stop torturing a turtle.
"This has been a nightmare. I mean, I have doctor's appointments pretty much every day or every other day," Blough said.
Blough said when he woke up Monday morning, he was unable to see.
"I went to the bathroom to rinse out my eyes. Nothing. Just could not see at all," he said.
Blough said all he had was blurry vision. He explained that the muscles in his eyes are damaged and before too long, he'll be blind in both eyes.
Authorities said Ryan Ponder, 23, Johnnie Beveritt, 18, and a 16-year-old are to blame for Blough's injuries.
Blough told police he tried to stop the trio, who was torturing a turtle at their apartment complex when they turned on him and attacked.
Ponder appeared in court Tuesday afternoon for a pretrial hearing. He's charged with felony cruelty to animals. Blough also made a point to be in court.
"He did do something. Mean, cruel and evil," Blough said.
Blough said he'll continue showing up to all of boys' court dates until they're punished for what he says they've done, but said he still has no regrets.
"I have nothing to be ashamed of. I did what any man should have done," he said.
Ponder has another hearing scheduled for July 18. Beveritt also had court Tuesday, and has one more chance to change his plea before Aug. 24. If he doesn't by then, authorities said he'll be going to trial.