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 discovered guilty Thursday of first-degree reckless harm, with a dangerous weapon, as a hate crime. He faces as much as 20 years in jail at his sentencing Could 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 america.

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

Villalaz moved his truck to a different parking spot and headed again 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 through the trial that his vision in his left eye has been permanently affected.

Blackwell stated he carried the drain cleaner for self-defense at night as a result of he’s disabled, and had been attacked on the streets before. He said he was scared when Villalaz received so angry, 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 offended at Blackwell for telling him he “invaded” his nation and may “go back,” but didn’t want to harm anyone.

Blackwell was taken into custody after the verdict.