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 attack in 2019.

Clifton Blackwell, 64, was found guilty Thursday of first-degree reckless injury, with a harmful weapon, as a hate crime. He faces as much as 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 country illegally and invading the US.

Blackwell was waiting for a bus when he advised Villalaz that he had parked his truck illegally in a bus stop zone outdoors a restaurant, prosecutors stated. The two may very well be seen on surveillance video, but not heard, and Blackwell may very well 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 two argued once more and Blackwell splashed the contents of the bottle, which was acidic drain cleaner, in Villalaz’s face.

Villalaz, 43, testified throughout 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 as a result of he’s disabled, and had been attacked on the streets before. He mentioned he was scared when Villalaz bought 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 indignant at Blackwell for telling him he “invaded” his country and may “return,” but didn’t need to hurt anyone.

Blackwell was taken into custody after the decision.