GRESHAM -- A teenager accused of beating a disabled man with a bat at a Gresham MAX station last year pleaded guilty to assault and robbery charges in court Thursday.

Abel Antonio Chavez-Garcia, described by police as a 15-year-old gang member, followed Laurie Chilcote off the train and attacked him, police said. Two other juveniles joined Chavez-Garcia who then allegedly hit Chilcote twice in the head with a baseball bat, knocking him unconscious. Officers found Chilcote with extensive head injuries. A K-9 team helped officers track down and arrest Chavez-Garcia.

Share/Read comments: How have you felt threatened on or near MAX?

Chavez-Garcia was tried as an adult and initially charged with attempted murder. But the charges were later changed to assault and robbery. He pleaded guilty to those charges Thursday.

KGW file photo

Chavez-Garcia also spoke to the judge in court.

"I regret what I did, I will try to change my life, turn it around and go to school, get some education," he said.

But not before serving 9 and a half years behind bars for the Measure 11 offenses. He will begin his sentence at the Oregon Youth Authority.

Chilcote still trying to recover

"It all happened so fast and I couldn’t believe it while it was happening," Chilcote said.

Chilcote said he had filed complaints about a lack of safety prior to the attack and often feared for TriMet bus drivers' safety.

The 71-year-old, who volunteers with at-risk Latino youth, was beaten by a Latino teen at the Gresham Central MAX Transit Station on NE 8th Street and Kelly Avenue on November 3rd.

He said he will return to volunteer work.

 Background: Chilcote partially paralyzed by attack

"When you work with children, you hope that they wil turn out better than that," Chilcote said. He has won volunteer awards and received numerous get-well cards and gifts from the children he tutors.