Man found guilty in beating of wife in Wyandanch smoke shop, Suffolk DA says

A Wyandanch man caught on video as he punched, kicked and stomped his wife in a hamlet smoke shop last year, throwing glass bottles and cans at her head and breaking her leg, has been convicted of the crime, the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office said Thursday.

Almalik Keller, 43, was convicted in a trial in Suffolk Superior Court before Judge Timothy P. Mazzei of first-degree assault, second-degree assault, aggravated criminal contempt and resisting arrest for the attack, which took place Sept. 17. He faces 25 years in prison when sentenced Aug. 22.

"This defendant's sustained and remorseless assault of the victim was unconscionable and unacceptable," Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney said in a statement, adding, "Domestic violence cannot be tolerated. I commended everyone in law enforcement who worked tirelessly to protect both the victim and the community from further violence by this defendant."

The attorney for Keller, Christopher Brocato of Brocato & Byrne, LLP, in Central Islip, said: "It's an unfortunate incident," noting Keller and his wife are still together.

Prosecutors said not only was the assault caught on video, but even after bystanders at the store helped the victim into the rear driver's side of her vehicle, Keller "slammed the door" on her leg — before driving off with her in the car.

The victim, whose identity was not released, suffered a black eye and two lacerations to her scalp that required stitches, the district attorney's office said.

She also suffered a broken leg and had to undergo two surgeries to install two permanent steel plates on both sides of her left leg.

Keller was arrested the night of the assault by Suffolk County police, following a traffic stop during which officers saw the victim in the back seat covered in blood and screaming, authorities said.

The district attorney's office said Keller fought with one of the arresting officers, managing to briefly escape on foot before being subdued with a stun gun.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”