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Bronx man faces 10 years after ditching assault trial, Instagramming prosecutor – Metro US

Bronx man faces 10 years after ditching assault trial, Instagramming prosecutor

Suspects punch, rob man in East Harlem: Police
NYPD

He may be sipping rum somewhere now, but this convicted criminal won’t be enjoying his drink of choice once he’s behind bars.

Ronald DeJesus Plaza, 25, was arrested in 2014 for a June attack on a stranger who had just come out of a nightclub on Aqueduct Avenue in the Kingsbridge section of the Bronx, the district attorney’s office said.

“Plaza not only punched his victim in the face and broke his nose, but also slashed him numerous times in the face as one other unapprehended man held the victim and stabbed him in the back multiple times. The victim suffered injuries that required nearly two dozen stitches and staples to his face and head,” the DA described in a statement.

Plaza turned himself in to police 11 days later. He was on trial for the brutal crime in December 2015 and about to be sentenced when he decided to flee.

Following the two-week long jury trial, closing arguments were delivered on Thursday, Dec.3. The next day, Plaza never showed up to court and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest.

The jury was told to still deliberate and on Monday, Dec. 7, he was found guilty.

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Over that weekend, Plaza, instead of keeping a low profile, decided to have a little fun with the prosecutor.

“At some point over the weekend, Plaza posted to an Instagram account a photo of a highly rated and expensive rum, with a message directed at the Assistant D.A. prosecuting the case: ‘Salute Mr. Miller, this is a good rum,’ according to the district attorney’s office.

Plaza was sentenced on Wednesday, in absentia, to 10 years in prison followed by five years post-release supervision.

The Westchester resident also has an open arrest warrant in that county for failing to appear before a court on an attempted murder case.