Josue Bonilla convicted in attack on man with dementia
Josue Bonilla was charged with robbery and assault in the beating of a 68-year-old man who has Alzheimer's disease in New Cassel, Nassau County police said. (June 15, 2012) Credit: NCPD
A New Cassel man was convicted Wednesday of first and second-degree assault in an attack that has left a 68-year-old man with dementia in a coma since April.
Josue Bonilla, 24, was acquitted of several other charges, including robbery, after a weeklong trial.
Judge Alan Honorof did not set a sentencing date after the jury's verdict. Bonilla faces a maximum of 25 years in prison for his crime.
Prosecutors said Bonilla's April 2012, assault on the man, who was not identified, left him with shoe marks on the victim's chest and back. Bonilla kicked the victim in the head and body while going through the man's pockets and taking his possessions, police said at the time. He kicked the victim so hard that Bonilla injured himself and was seen limping as he fled the scene, police said.
Bonilla's attorney, Robert Schalk of Mineola, said he will appeal the verdict. He said there were serious questions as to whether Bonilla was the man who carried out the attack since he has tattoos covering both his arms, and more than one witness did not report seeing any tattoos on the attacker.
"We respect the verdict, but we don't believe it is consistent with the evidence in the case," Schalk said.
