Mark Wahlberg seeks pardon of felony conviction for 1988 assault

Actor Mark Wahlberg is attempting to clear a 1988 felony assault conviction from his record.

In his application to the Massachusetts Board of Pardons, the star of “The Departed” and “The Fighter” said he is a changed man who regrets beating a man so badly he was blinded in one eye.

“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 have caused the victims,” Wahlberg said in his application, filed the day before Thanksgiving. “Since that time, I have dedicated myself to becoming a better person and citizen so I can be a role model to my children and others.”

The father of four, who said he was trying to steal beer from the man when the assault occurred, was 16 at the time. He was tried as an adult and spent 45 days of a three-month sentence in prison.

Wahlberg, who noted he has always been honest about his troubled past, said he is seeking the pardon for multiple reasons, including being afforded more opportunities to work alongside law enforcement who deal with at-risk youth.

He also wants to be able to obtain a concessionaire’s license for Wahlburgers, the restaurant business he owns with his brothers, according to the application.

“Rather than ignore or deny my troubled past, I have used the public spotlight to speak openly about mistakes I made as teenager so that others do not make those same mistakes,” Wahlberg said.

The board will investigate and determine whether to hold a public hearing before recommending moving forward in the process.

Follow Ryan Parker for breaking news at @theryanparker and on Facebook.