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 during a racist attack in 2019.

Clifton Blackwell, 64, was discovered responsible Thursday of first-degree reckless harm, with a dangerous weapon, as a hate crime. He faces as much as 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 street 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 instructed Villalaz that he had parked his truck illegally in a bus stop zone exterior a restaurant, prosecutors stated. The 2 could 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 towards the restaurant. The two argued once more 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 vision in his left eye has been permanently affected.

Blackwell mentioned he carried the drain cleaner for self-defense at evening because he’s disabled, and had been attacked on the streets before. He stated he was scared when Villalaz got so indignant, and splashed the liquid simply as Villalaz made a fist and appeared 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 should “go back,” but didn’t wish to hurt anyone.

Blackwell was taken into custody after the decision.