Man Alleges Previous Attack by Accused Bouncer

NBC 7 Investigates dug deeper into the accused bouncer's past and found he has a violent criminal history

A second alleged victim is speaking out against an Oceanside bar bouncer who was arrested and charged in the death of 27-year-old Mark Girard Jr.

Joe Barbot says Derrick Lamont Belser violently beat him at Fire Water Saloon on Pier View Way.

According to Barbot this happened just two weeks before Girard Jr.’s death.

“What happened was I was at Fire Water in Oceanside, and about an hour before the altercation with the bouncer I saw him carry somebody by the collar,” Barbot said. “He was on his butt all the way across the bar, and I told my buddies, 'Man that doesn't seem right. He shouldn't be doing that.’”

Barbot said, he pulled out his phone and told Belser, “You can’t be doing this.”

“He grabs my phone out of my hand, and he says ‘Don't be doing that,’” Barbot said. “Then he throws me out, kicks me out of the bar. I remember him being so tall. He picks me up, body slams me. I slam my head on the back of the pavement there. And then when I was down, he hits me in the side of the face and I had a black eye.”

Barbot said he contacted NBC 7 Investigates because he regrets not filing charges. He said if he did, Girard Jr. may still be alive.

Belser is being charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of Girard Jr. Prosecutors allege Belser followed three bar patrons outside the Fire Water Saloon on December 28, punching two of them following an argument. He then exited a locked gate separating him from the group to confront the men, prosecutors said.

Girard Jr. was one of the patrons. He fell upon being punched, hitting his head on the concrete. He died in a hospital two days later.

Belser was in court on Wednesday and pleaded not guilty to the charges. Bail was set at $200,000.

NBC 7 Investigates reached out to Belser’s family, but have not heard back from them.

Girard Jr.’s father was at that arraignment and called Belser’s alleged actions “a senseless act of violence.”

“[My son] was out having a good time with friends and ran into somebody that probably shouldn't have been in the position he was in,” Mark Girard Sr. said.

NBC 7 Investigates dug deeper into Belser's past and found he has a violent criminal history.

According to police, it includes assault and drug charges in two states. NBC 7 Investigates also learned he isn't licensed as a security guard or security officer in the state of California.

Belser's attorney Brad Patton argues a license isn't needed, and his client was just acting in self-defense that evening Girard Jr. fell to the ground.

“Mr. Belser was very concerned for his safety at this time and as one person was approaching him he did one hit to the face to that individual,” Patton said at Belser’s arraignment.

NBC 7 Investigates attempted to speak with the owners of Fire and Water Saloon several times, but have not heard back.

Security experts told NBC 7 Investigates, according to California law a bouncer whose main job is to provide security to a business is required to be licensed by the state.

Click here to check the license of a security guard in California.

A police detective on Belser’s case said, even before the incident, he would not have been able to obtain a license due to his criminal past.

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