ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – A man accused of an antisemitic attack in Ponte Vedra Beach nearly two years ago was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Friday.
Noah Amato was 17 years old during the attack in 2022.
Deputies say he hit another teenager in the face and fired a gun near the boy’s head.
There are other crimes Amato is accused of beyond that one case.
Amato is charged with running from deputies in a separate incident in July 2023. The state attorney’s office said the sentence applied to both of the felony cases.
Amato pleaded “no contest” to aggravated battery and carrying a concealed weapon.
He faced a minimum of 25 months and a maximum of 25 years or more.
The victims took the stand Friday and for the first time confronted the person that they said attacked them and asked the judge to send a message.
“Your honor please take the chance to tell our community that they can feel safe walking around their own neighborhood,” Avi Kurinsky said.
According to an arrest report from Oct. 17, 2022, Amato is accused of riding a bike with a friend in Ponte Vedra Beach while under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
According to the report, deputies say Amato shouted a slur at a group of four Jewish teenagers who were out celebrating the Jewish holiday, Sukkot.
The report says Amato hit one of the teenagers with a handgun in the face, pointed the gun at him and fired it near the teenager’s head and then left.
Amato’s attorney argued there was a verbal confrontation between Amato and the group.
His attorney claimed that one of the boys may have been intoxicated and yelled at Amato and his friend as they were biking away. That’s when the defense said Amato turned around and one of the boys put their hands on him first.
They also questioned why the group of teens didn’t call police after the incident with Amato. Witnesses during Friday’s sentencing hearing explained that because of the Jewish holiday, they were unsure if they were permitted to use their phones.
The teen who was targeted by Amato, Zalman Barrocas, testified via Zoom for the sentencing hearing.
“I believe this man should have the maximum punishment,” Barrocas said. “My life could have been over that day. I believe it’s a miracle from God and I thank him every day. I hope it’s a story that ends with us being safer and we’re able to live in society without being in fear.”
According to additional court documents, Amato was arrested in July 2023 after deputies said he was caught doing donuts and burnouts in a Publix parking lot and then driving away from deputies before they managed to stop him.
A sentencing memorandum shows that Amato entered an open plea in May 2024 to the two charges. An open plea allows the judge to decide what his sentence will be.
Court records show that more than 30 letters have been sent to the judge, describing the impact Amato’s actions have had on the Jewish community.
However, because the people who sent the letters are not directly related to the case, the judge cannot consider them in the sentencing.
Amato’s uncle also submitted a letter asking the judge to consider the trauma the now 19-year-old has experienced in recent years.
The letter details Amato’s parent’s “tumultuous divorce” and the death of a different uncle.