Mark Wahlberg Seeks Pardon For 1988 Assault Conviction In Massachusetts

“Transformers” actor Mark Wahlberg has asked Massachusetts to pardon him for a 1988 assault he served jail time for, which blinded his victim in one eye.

In a letter to the Massachusetts Board of Pardons obtained by New England Cable News, Wahlberg wrote, “I am deeply sorry for the actions that I took on the night of April 8, 1988, as well as for any lasting damage that I may have caused the victims.

"Since that time, I have dedicated myself to becoming a better person and citizen so that I can be a role model to my children and others."

Wahlberg's application detailed how the then 16-year-old had attempted to steal two cases of alcohol from a man in Dorchester, Massachusetts, hitting him over the head with a stick and punching another man.

He served 45 days of a three-month jail sentence, according to the New York Daily News.

The actor cited the millions of dollars he had raised for philanthropic organizations and his regular attendance at church in support of his bid to have his conviction expunged.

"I have not engaged in philanthropic efforts in order to make people forget about my past," the actor added. "To the contrary, I want people to remember my past so that I can serve as an example of how lives can be turned around and how people can be redeemed."

Wahlberg began his career in entertainment as a rapper, under the name Marky Mark, before finding fame as an underwear model, and then making the transition to acting. Wahlberg's most notable films include “Boogie Nights,” “The Fighter” and “The Departed,” for which he received an Oscar nomination.

Pardon's are rarely granted in Massachusetts, and for Wahlberg to receive one, the board would have to review his application and make a recommendation to Gov. Deval Patrick. Patrick has not approved a single pardon during nearly eight years in office, according to the Associated Press.