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 during a racist assault in 2019.

Clifton Blackwell, 64, was discovered guilty Thursday of first-degree reckless damage, with a dangerous weapon, as a hate crime. He faces up to 20 years in prison at his sentencing May 18.

The jury rejected Blackwell’s argument that he acted in self-defense after arguing with Mahud Villalaz over road parking in November 2019 in Milwaukee. He accused Villalaz, who suffered second-degree burns, of being within the nation illegally and invading america.

Blackwell was ready for a bus when he informed Villalaz that he had parked his truck illegally in a bus stop zone exterior a restaurant, prosecutors said. The 2 could 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 a different parking spot and headed back toward 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 during the trial that his imaginative and prescient in his left eye has been completely affected.

Blackwell said he carried the drain cleaner for self-defense at night because he’s disabled, and had been attacked on the streets before. He stated he was scared when Villalaz got 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 country and may “return,” but didn’t want to damage anyone.

Blackwell was taken into custody after the decision.