A profession prison will spend the subsequent 15 years behind bars for trying to rob a 91-year-old most cancers affected person in a violent Higher East Aspect assault that left the bedridden sufferer believing “dying can be higher” than dwelling along with his agonizing accidents.
Christian Torres, 45, was sentenced Wednesday for viciously shoving Hyman Silverglad to the bottom and pummeling the nonagenarian after making an attempt to grab his pockets within the would-be mugging on Feb. 1, 2024, the Manhattan District Legal professional’s Workplace introduced.
The heinous assault left the shaken senior – who was battling most cancers and kidney failure on the time – with six bone fractures, damaged ribs, a liver hematoma and one other fracture on the base of his backbone.
“The ache instantly after the assault was so agonizing that I believed dying can be higher than the agony I used to be going by,” Silverglad, now 92, informed the court docket in a sufferer impression assertion.
“Since my assault, I’ve been unable to stroll any considerable distance, I’m bedridden. The one time I depart my house is for acts of medical necessity. I’m frightened to depart my house with out one other individual accompanying me, as a result of I worry being attacked as soon as extra.”
Silverglad was strolling house along with his groceries on East 86th Avenue and First Avenue at about 10:25 p.m. when Torres reached in the direction of his pocket and tried to seize his pockets earlier than launching the assault, prosecutors mentioned.
The assailant, who cops say has a number of prior arrests and convictions, ran off empty-handed because the frightened sufferer shouted for assist and tried to struggle again, based on cops.
The violent brute was busted greater than every week later.
“I implore the court docket when it metes out punishment, to think about that I’ve been sentenced to ‘imprisonment,’” the scorned elder mentioned in his letter.
“Respectfully, the barbarity of the assault needs to be famous by the court docket. I’ve been knowledgeable that my assailant had simply completed a really lengthy jail sentence, however that punishment didn’t cease him from his recidivist, vicious assault on myself. It’s my hope that the court docket might be truthful and simply.”
Torres was beforehand locked up in state jail from January 2022 to April 2023 for a Bronx theft conviction, state corrections information present. His earliest jail sentence was in 1998 on an arson and theft conviction within the Bronx.
He was on post-supervision launch when he focused Silverglad.
In June, a jury convicted the serial robber of first-degree assault, first-degree tried theft, and second-degree assault.
“A 91-year-old man was strolling house along with his groceries on the Higher East Aspect when Christian Torres attacked and tried to rob him with out provocation,” District Legal professional Alvin Bragg mentioned in a press release.
“I hope as we speak’s sentencing offers the sufferer a way of closure as he continues to heal from this assault. My workplace will proceed to create accountability for individuals who threaten the security of older New Yorkers.”
