Nassau jurors convict Hempstead man of assaulting, biting former girlfriend

Nassau County Court jurors deliberated for an hour and found a Hempstead man guilty of several counts of felony assault after a seven-day trial Wednesday in connection with a 2014 attack on the defendant's former girlfriend and her friend, prosecutors said.

Anibal Perez Ramirez, 30, was found guilty of all charges filed against him, including: first-degree assault, first-degree attempted assault, second-degree assault, third-degree assault, criminal possession of a weapon and second-degree menacing, prosecutors said.

"This defendant committed a horrific act of violence against the mother of his children and another person, and despite a victim who didn't want to testify, our prosecutors helped to ensure that this case went to trial and that he will be held accountable for the permanent damage he has caused," said acting Nassau District Attorney Madeline Singas.

His attorney, Jason Russo of Bay Shore, said of Ramirez: "He was disappointed with the verdict and plans on filing an appeal."

Ramirez is due back in court Nov. 6 for sentencing by acting State Supreme Court Justice William O'Brien.

Prosecutors said he attacked his former girlfriend and a male acquaintance when the two arrived at the apartment where the former girlfriend had lived with Ramirez's two young children on Sept. 21, 2014.

Ramirez, prosecutors said, struck the male companion on the forehead with a hammer, grabbed his former girlfriend by the neck and bit into her face -- ripping off a chunk of her lip and the skin on her chin -- before chomping on the male friend's forearm and finger, biting off a fingernail.

Ramirez ran away, but surrendered to police two days later, authorities said.