Josue Bonilla, 23, charged with first-degree robbery and assault
Following what Third Squad Commanding Officer Ray Cote described as a “senseless and very disturbing” attack on a 68-year-old man suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia, Josue Bonilla, 23, of New Cassel, was charged with first-degree robbery and first-degree assault.
Cote said that on April 28, the 68-year-old victim, whose identity wasn’t released, wandered two-and-a-half miles from his residence in Hicksville to Grayson Street in New Cassel. Cote said Bonilla, at approximately 8:20 p.m., started kicking the victim and going through his pockets, while witnesses overheard the victim say, “I don’t have anything,” in Spanish.
Cote explained, “Bonilla viciously attacked and robbed our victim, and the 68-year-old victim suffered severe injuries as a result of this attack. Mr. Bonilla struck him with his fist, knocking him to the ground. Once he was on the ground, he kicked the man in the face, the chest and the back so severely that there were boot marks on the man’s body.
“His jaw was broken, the dentures in his mouth were broken and the man is in a serious condition at an area hospital and is in a coma. The doctors do not expect a significant recovery from the condition he is in now,” Cote said.
“The man had very little money on him. Detectives worked tirelessly and we’re satisfied that the arrest has been made. It was constant persistence from our detectives in this case and an exhaustive investigation was done,” Cote said.
Bonilla was charged with first-degree robbery and first-degree assault. Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice is considering upgrading those charges if the victim’s condition worsens. Police said Bonilla was previously arrested and charged with criminal mischief.
“This man apparently saw this as an opportunity to rob him and viciously did so. The family is obviously extremely distraught over this thing but now can find some solace in the fact that the guilty party has been arrested. It’s senseless and very disturbing when you encounter cases like that where people could be so insensitive and so vicious,” Cote said.
