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 attack in 2019.

Clifton Blackwell, 64, was discovered responsible Thursday of first-degree reckless damage, with a dangerous 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 street parking in November 2019 in Milwaukee. He accused Villalaz, who suffered second-degree burns, of being within the country illegally and invading the USA.

Blackwell was ready for a bus when he informed Villalaz that he had parked his truck illegally in a bus cease zone outdoors a restaurant, prosecutors said. The 2 could possibly be seen on surveillance video, however not heard, and Blackwell might 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 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 imaginative and prescient in his left eye has been completely affected.

Blackwell stated he carried the drain cleaner for self-defense at night because he’s disabled, and had been attacked on the streets earlier than. He said he was scared when Villalaz bought so angry, and splashed the liquid just 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 will “return,” however didn’t wish to damage anybody.

Blackwell was taken into custody after the decision.