The 5 Towns Jewish Times

Man who punched 64-year-old Jewish man in NY sentenced to state prison

Perin Jacobchuk, who also assaulted a 63-year-old Asian woman, “has been held accountable,” stated Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney.

Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney, announced recently that Perin Jacobchuk, 34, has been sentenced to three-and-a-half years in federal prison for assaulting a 64-year-old Jewish man and, concurrently, one-and-a-third to four years in federal prison for attacking a 63-year-old Asian woman.

“Perin Jacobchuk will serve state prison time for committing two, separate, brutal attacks fueled by his prejudices and biases,” Bragg stated. “These hate crimes left both New Yorkers with physical injuries, which they have thankfully fully recovered from. I hope that the resolution of this case can offer the victims comfort in knowing that Jacobchuk has been held accountable.”

Jacobchuk pleaded guilty to both attacks. He has admitted that he performed a Nazi salute at a Jewish man walking in Central Park in Manhattan on Dec. 4, 2022. The Jewish man heard the attacker “using antisemitic slurs and making antisemitic remarks, including ‘kill the Jews,’” per Bragg’s office. “The man walked towards Jacobchuk and verbally confronted him about his offensive behavior. Jacobchuk walked towards him, repeating the same antisemitic remarks and slurs, including ‘kill the Jews.’”

As the Jewish man tried to leave, Jacobchuk followed him riding on a bike and kept making antisemitic comments. He also “punched him in the back of the head, knocking the man to the ground,” per Bragg’s office. “The man suffered a concussion and several injuries, including a broken bone in his right hand, broken left kneecap and damage to his teeth, which required extensive dental work.”

“These injuries made it difficult for the victim to eat, use his hand or put weight on his knee for several months,” the district attorney’s office said.

Jacobchuk also admitted to yelling “go back to China” at a woman and her husband, who are both of Asian descent, on Aug. 15, 2021 on West 54th Street and Broadway in Manhattan.

“As he continued yelling anti-Asian remarks at them, he ran up behind the woman, grabbed her shoulders and shoved her to the ground,” per Bragg’s office. “The woman fell onto the concrete staircase of the Ameritania Hotel, hitting her back and legs on the stairs.”

Bragg’s office referred questions about where and when Jacobchuk is serving his sentence to the New York City Department of Correction and told JNS that Jacobchuk has been held on bail throughout the case.