A Florida man who terrorized and attacked four Jewish teens in an antisemitic attack, pistol whipping one of them, was sentenced Friday to 10 years in prison. Noah Amato, 19, of Ponte Vedra, Florida, pleaded no contest to fleeing from police and reckless driving in some 2023 charges and also pleaded no contest and found guilty of aggravated battery and carrying a concealed firearm in the October 2022 attack against the four teens who were walking along a road while dressed in traditional attire for their celebration of a religious holiday.
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. ~ The Associated Press
Amato’s victim, identified as Zalman Barrocas, had an opportunity to testify at the sentencing hearing, saying that “I believe this man should have the maximum punishment. 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.”
Barrocas’ uncle, Rabbi Nochum Kurinsky, expressed the frustration on the part of his family and the Jewish community that Amato was never charged with a hate crime and argued that the attack on his nephew and friends was motivated by prejudice against the Jewish community. To date though, no hate crime charges have been filed, according to Newsweek. Amato was looking at a possible maximum of 25 years or more behind bars.
Amato fessed up while on the stand and testifying in his own defense to the fact that he was under the influence during the attack and was quoted in court by the Israel National News as saying that “I take 100% responsibility for the heinous crime I committed. I was highly intoxicated on an entire bottle of liquor and some Percocets.”
For more on Noah Amato’s sentencing, see the video accompanying this article.
