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 attack in 2019.

Clifton Blackwell, 64, was found responsible Thursday of first-degree reckless damage, with a harmful weapon, as a hate crime. He faces as much as 20 years in jail at his sentencing May 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 within the nation illegally and invading the USA.

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

Villalaz moved his truck to a different parking spot and headed again toward 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 during 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 night time because he’s disabled, and had been attacked on the streets before. He said he was scared when Villalaz acquired so indignant, 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 offended at Blackwell for telling him he “invaded” his nation and should “return,” however didn’t want to hurt anyone.

Blackwell was taken into custody after the verdict.