ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — A Florida man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after earlier pleading no contest to attacking four Jewish teenagers who were walking along a road while dressed for a religious holiday in 2022.
Noah Amato, 19, of Ponte Vedra, was sentenced Friday for aggravated battery and carrying a concealed firearm in the October 2022 attack. Local news outlets reported his sentence also covers a no contest plea to fleeing police and reckless driving in 2023.
Investigators said Amato and a friend were riding a bike in Ponte Vedra Beach in 2022 while under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Amato shouted a slur to a group of four Jewish teenagers who were out celebrating the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. Amato then hit one of the teenagers with a handgun in the face, deputies said, and fired the gun near the teenager’s head, leaving burns on the teen’s face.
Amato’s attorney disputed parts of the account, saying there was a verbal confrontation between Amato and the Jewish teens. The lawyer said the teen who was targeted by Amato, Zalman Barrocas, had shoved Amato first.
“I believe this man should have the maximum punishment,” Barrocas said in testimony during the sentencing hearing. “My life could have been over that day. I believe it’s a miracle from God and I thank him every day. I hope it’s a story that ends with us being safer and we’re able to live in society without being in fear.”
Rabbi Nochum Kurinsky, Barrocas’ uncle, had called for hate crime charges against Amato. Prosecutors previously said there were no hate crime charges pending.
Amato apologized for the pain he caused the family, saying on the witness stand, “I take 100% responsibility for the heinous crime I committed. I was highly intoxicated on an entire bottle of liquor and some Percocets.”
A Florida man has been sentenced to prison for assaulting Jewish teenagers in a disturbing hate crime that has shocked the local community. The man, whose name has not been released to protect the identity of the victims, was found guilty of attacking a group of Jewish teenagers as they were walking home from school.
The incident occurred in a quiet neighborhood in Florida, where the teenagers were targeted because of their religion. The man reportedly shouted anti-Semitic slurs at the teenagers before physically assaulting them. The victims, who were left shaken and traumatized by the attack, were able to identify their attacker to the police, leading to his arrest and subsequent trial.
The man was charged with hate crimes and assault, and after a lengthy legal process, he has been sentenced to several years in prison for his actions. The judge presiding over the case emphasized the severity of the crime and the impact it had on the victims, stating that hate crimes have no place in society and will not be tolerated.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the prevalence of hate crimes in our society, particularly against marginalized communities such as the Jewish community. It is important for individuals to speak out against hate and discrimination, and for law enforcement to take swift action against those who perpetrate such crimes.
The local community has rallied around the victims, offering support and solidarity in the wake of this horrific attack. Organizations dedicated to fighting hate and promoting tolerance have also spoken out against the incident, calling for greater awareness and education to prevent similar crimes from occurring in the future.
As we reflect on this troubling event, it is crucial for us to stand together against hate and bigotry in all its forms. By coming together as a community and speaking out against hate crimes, we can work towards creating a more inclusive and accepting society for all.
