Vigilante Found Guilty / Manslaughter rap for shooting car vandal to death

New York Daily News | 7/02/02 | CHRISENA COLEMAN

[kattracks]

A Bronx jury handed down a manslaughter conviction yesterday for a man who said he snapped when he saw a would-be thief breaking into his car and gunned him down with a .22-caliber rifle.

After a two-week Bronx Supreme Court trial, the jury deliberated three hours before finding Victor Vicenty, 54, guilty of second-degree manslaughter for fatally shooting 41-year-old Kevin Bethea in May 2001.

Vicenty did not testify at the trial but told a grand jury he had grown increasingly frustrated because his vehicles have been repeatedly broken into and vandalized since 1989.

"Year after year ... it was just mounting up," he testified. "I just took out the rage that I have been holding for all the time that my automobile was broken in ... and no one would help me."

After his 1998 Toyota Corolla was vandalized several times while parked near his Soundview apartment building, he installed an alarm in it.

He testified that when he heard the alarm go off at 2 a.m. May 7, he went downstairs armed with a .22-caliber rifle and confronted Bethea, who was inside his car.

Bethea had threatened him and was coming at him when he opened fire, emptying the rifle, Vicenty told the grand jury.

Vicenty, a school bus driver who described himself as a Christian, said he regretted his actions but had reached a breaking point.

Bethea had been arrested more than 50 times dating to 1976 — mostly for drug abuse, auto break-ins and robbery — but the trial jury was not allowed to hear his criminal record.

Appeal Planned

"I will appeal," Vicenty told a Daily News reporter as he was led out of the courtroom in handcuffs. He faces up to 15 years in prison when he is sentenced July 19 by Supreme Court Justice Martin Marcus.

After yesterday's verdict, Bronx Assistant District Attorney Barbara Chavez said "the jury has spoken," but Vicenty's lawyer, Murray Richman, expressed disappointment.

"The jury should have seen the fear in this man," said Richman. "He acted in self-defense. ... Mr. Vicenty didn't want to hurt anyone. He was afraid for his own life."

Richman said that before the shooting, Vicenty had been a law-abiding citizen.

"His life has been completely turned upside-down since this happened," the lawyer said. "He is the victim."

Outside the Bronx courthouse, passersby familiar with the case said they were shocked by the guilty verdict.

"I don't think he should get jail time. He should get a medal," said Pearl Williams, 48. "He's my hero."

[kattracks]

Victor Vicenty

[Rodney King]

He should get a medal.

[NerdDad]

Without having heard the evidence I am disappointed in this verdict. I don't think the man would have been indicted let alone convicted here in the South where juries still respect the property rights of owners. I will say that the man needs to settle on one defense and stick to it. He was either enraged and taking out the frustration of years of burlaries on one man (what he told the grand jury) or he was a victim fearing for his life and protecting himself and his property (what his lawyer told the press). He could well have hung himself with his grand jury testimony. Especially since the perp's prior record was kept from the jury. Anyone familiar enough with the case or law to explain why the jury was kept in the dark?

[Psalm 73]

"Bethea had threatened him and was coming at him when he opened fire, emptying the rifle,"

What the heck kind of jury convicted him under these circumstances?
Oh, yea - The Bronx, the same people who voted Hitlery as their Senator.
(Obviously devoid of critical-thinking skills).

[Temple Owl]

Same kind of judge who outlawed The Pledge of Allegiance. That verdict should be overturned.

[lodwick]

bttt

[toddst]

Oh, yea - The Bronx, the same people who voted Hitlery as their Senator. (Obviously devoid of critical-thinking skills).

You forget this is NYC, where only the elite have gun rights via nearly impossible to get gun "permits." Also, how dare this man assert his right to protect his property using a gun (probably no permit for the gun.) Thugs know the law and that their chance of being confronted by an armed citizen is minimum.

[HiTech RedNeck]

"Bethea had threatened him and was coming at him when he opened fire, emptying the rifle,"

Which would have been fine and dandy had Vicenty been a LEO. What's this world coming to?

[aristeides]

Bronx juries are notorious.