Warning: The video is disturbing.
California woman Laquisha Jones, 30, pleaded no contest on Thursday in the brutal beating of a 91-year-old man, says the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office. Her sentencing on one count of elder abuse, infliction of injury is set for February 28, according to a news release obtained by Law&Crime. She faces up to 15 years in prison.
Jones attacked Rodolfo Rodriguez, now 92, with a brick last July 4th, prosecutors said. Video from after the incident shows the victim on the ground, his face covered in blood.
He sustained a broken jaw, cheekbones, and ribs, as well as bruises, his family said in a CNN report in July.
Rodriguez told the outlet the attack happened after he walked by Jones and a girl.
“I didn’t even bump into her kid,” he said. “I just passed her and she pushed me and she hit me until she was done.”
The attack happened without provocation, prosecutors said on Thursday.
Authorities first went after Jones on an attempt murder charge in addition to elder abuse, but not a hate crime. Rodriguez is a legal permanent resident from Mexico. A witness said in an off-camera interview with Fox 11 that Jones told the victim to go back to his country. Rodriguez said he couldn’t corroborate this detail because he doesn’t speak English.
[Screengrab via Fox 11]