Houston – Court records reveal the man accused of attacking a 15-year-old student in downtown Houston last week was on probation in two states at the time of the assault.
Houston police said Ammiel Clark attacked the student on Jan. 12 as the teen was walking to Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts carrying his cello. Prosecutors say Clark beat the teen so severely that he suffered multiple facial fractures and required treatment from a plastic surgeon.
Investigators say Clark stole the student’s cello and then attacked another person who tried to help. Court records also accuse Clark of assaulting a third person downtown that same day.
According to Harris County court records, Clark was on probation after receiving deferred adjudication for a misdemeanor assault case in November 2025.
Clark was also on probation in Louisiana for a 2024 burglary conviction and had previously served time in prison.
Clark also pleaded guilty in Sept. to another misdemeanor assault case and was sentenced to 114 days in county jail, with 38 days credit for time served.
When 2 Investigates asked the District Attorney’s Office why Clark was given deferred adjudication in the Nov. assault case, despite being on probation out of Louisiana and pleading guilty to another misdemeanor assault case two months prior, we were told “he received a sentence in accordance with the law.”
County records further show Clark also uses the name Yoseph Plaincraft and was out on bond in Harris County for additional cases, including terroristic threat and criminal trespassing, when the Jan. 12 attacks allegedly occurred.
Downtown business owners said homelessness in the area is a concern they face daily.
Sohail Quadri, a manager at a nearby Louisiana Famous Fried Chicken and Seafood location, said homelessness and erratic behavior in the area have caused customers to feel unsafe.
“Sometimes customers get scared to come inside,” Quadri said, adding that businesses have had to rely on added security to protect staff and customers.
Quadri said his restaurant has previously suffered property damage when a homeless man allegedly threw a rock through a window late at night.
Houston ISD officials confirm the 15-year-old student has returned to school. The district says it will increase police patrols around the campus following the attack.
Clark is due back in court Wednesday.