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 assault in 2019.

Clifton Blackwell, 64, was discovered guilty Thursday of first-degree reckless injury, with a harmful 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 within the country illegally and invading the US.

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

Villalaz moved his truck to another 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 completely affected.

Blackwell mentioned he carried the drain cleaner for self-defense at evening as a result of 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 just 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 angry at Blackwell for telling him he “invaded” his country and may “go back,” but didn’t want to harm anybody.

Blackwell was taken into custody after the verdict.