A 19-year-old man from Ponte Vedra, Florida, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading no contest to charges related to an attack on four Jewish teenagers. The incident occurred in October 2022 when the teenagers were walking along a road dressed for the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.
The accused, Noah Amato, was sentenced on Friday for aggravated battery and carrying a concealed firearm. His sentence also encompasses a no-contest plea to charges of fleeing police and reckless driving in a separate incident in 2023.
According to investigators, Amato and a friend were under the influence of drugs and alcohol while riding a bike in Ponte Vedra Beach on the day of the attack. Amato allegedly shouted a slur at the group of Jewish teenagers before striking one of them in the face with a handgun. He then fired the gun near the victim’s head, causing burns on the teen’s face.
Amato’s defense attorney challenged some aspects of the incident, asserting that there was a verbal altercation between Amato and the teens. The lawyer claimed that the teenager who was attacked, Zalman Barrocas, had shoved Amato first.
“I believe this man should have the maximum punishment,” Barrocas stated 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, the victim’s uncle, urged for hate crime charges to be brought against Amato. However, prosecutors indicated that no hate crime charges were pending.
During his testimony, Amato expressed remorse for his actions, stating, “I take 100% responsibility for the heinous crime I committed. I was highly intoxicated on an entire bottle of liquor and some Percocets.”
Justice Served in Florida Attack
The sentencing of Noah Amato serves as a reminder of the severity of hate-motivated violence. The legal system has taken steps to address the attack on the Jewish teenagers, with the hope that this case brings a sense of justice and safety to the victims and the broader community. The case underscores the importance of accountability and the need for vigilance in ensuring that such incidents do not go unpunished.
