NYer, convicted of mugging centenarian woman and 2 others, faces 90 years in prison
By APTuesday, October 6, 2009
NY jury convicts man in mugging of centenarian
NEW YORK — A New York City man has been convicted of a hate crime for mugging a centenarian on her way to church.
A jury deliberated less than a day before convicting Jack Rhodes on Tuesday. He faces up to 90 years in prison in a mugging spree that also victimized two other women.
Rose Morat, who was punched in the face and robbed of $23, is now 103 years old. A call to her home rang unanswered.
Defense attorney Paul Montgomery questioned eyewitness accounts and suggested that police and prosecutors were trying to frame Rhodes.
Assistant District Attorney Eugene Reibstein says witnesses clearly saw Rhodes’ face during the midday robbery in 2007.
It’s Rhodes’ second trial. The first ended in a mistrial.
