A 22-year-old UC Santa Barbara student was arrested Saturday after, authorities say, he punched a pastor in the face more than 30 times in what officials believe was a random attack.

The incident began when Father Jon-Stephen Hedges heard a knock at his front door in the 6800 block of Fortuna Road at about 2:15 a.m. Saturday, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. A man, later identified as Paul Gusman, was calling for help and throwing his body against the door, officials said.

Fearing that someone was in trouble, Hedges opened his door. Gusman, who was naked from the waist down, then forced his way into the home and assaulted the pastor, authorities said.

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The pastor was hit more than 30 times in the face and his wife was struck on her right hand, according to the Sheriff’s Office. The pastor’s wife managed to call 911 and when sheriff’s deputies arrived, they found Gusman standing in the front yard.

The suspect appeared to be under the influence of a controlled substance and possibly intoxicated, officials said. He was arrested and treated at a local hospital for an injury to his hand that he sustained during the attack.

A preliminary investigation indicated that it was a random attack and that Gusman did not know the pastor, authorities said.

Gusman was booked at the Santa Barbara County Jail on charges of assault upon a person with force likely to produce great bodily injury, residential burglary, elder abuse and dissuading a witness/victim. He was being held on $500,000 bail and his arraignment is scheduled for Tuesday.


Hedges was transported to the hospital with major injuries, but was later release and is “with his family recovering from his injuries,” authorities said.

The pastor, a UC Santa Barbara graduate, has lived in Isla Vista since 1968. He is an assistant pastor at St. Athanasius Orthodox Church and a volunteer chaplain with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office.

brittny.mejia@latimes.com

Follow me on Twitter: @brittny_mejia


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