Man convicted in racist 2019 acid attack 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 harmful weapon, as a hate crime. He faces up to 20 years in prison at his sentencing Might 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 country illegally and invading the USA.

Blackwell was ready for a bus when he told Villalaz that he had parked his truck illegally in a bus stop zone outside a restaurant, prosecutors mentioned. The 2 may very well be seen on surveillance video, however not heard, and Blackwell may very well be seen retrieving an aluminum bottle from his satchel.

Villalaz moved his truck to another parking spot and headed back towards the restaurant. The 2 argued again and Blackwell splashed the contents of the bottle, which was acidic drain cleaner, in Villalaz’s face.

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

Blackwell said he carried the drain cleaner for self-defense at evening because he’s disabled, and had been attacked on the streets before. He said he was scared when Villalaz acquired so offended, and splashed the liquid simply as Villalaz made a fist and seemed 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 indignant at Blackwell for telling him he “invaded” his nation and may “return,” but didn’t need to damage anyone.

Blackwell was taken into custody after the decision.