Man convicted in racist 2019 acid assault in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE (AP) — A jury has convicted a white Milwaukee man who was accused of throwing acid on a Latino man’s face throughout a racist assault in 2019.

Clifton Blackwell, 64, was found responsible Thursday of first-degree reckless harm, with a dangerous weapon, as a hate crime. He faces up to 20 years in prison at his sentencing Could 18.

The jury rejected Blackwell’s argument that he acted in self-defense after arguing with Mahud Villalaz over avenue parking in November 2019 in Milwaukee. He accused Villalaz, who suffered second-degree burns, of being in the nation illegally and invading the US.

Blackwell was ready for a bus when he instructed Villalaz that he had parked his truck illegally in a bus stop zone outdoors a restaurant, prosecutors said. The two may very well be seen on surveillance video, however not heard, and Blackwell could possibly be seen retrieving an aluminum bottle from his satchel.

Villalaz moved his truck to another parking spot and headed again toward the restaurant. The two argued again and Blackwell splashed the contents of the bottle, which was acidic drain cleaner, in Villalaz’s face.

Villalaz, 43, testified during the trial that his imaginative and prescient in his left eye has been permanently affected.

Blackwell mentioned he carried the drain cleaner for self-defense at night time because he’s disabled, and had been attacked on the streets before. He said he was scared when Villalaz got so angry, and splashed the liquid simply as Villalaz made a fist and gave the impression to be about to strike him, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

Villalaz is a U.S. citizen who immigrated from Peru. He testified he was angry at Blackwell for telling him he “invaded” his nation and may “return,” however didn’t wish to hurt anybody.

Blackwell was taken into custody after the decision.