Monsey - Man, 54, guilty in assault on Rockland Kosher store guard

MONSEY -  54-year-old homeless man was found guilty Tuesday of assaulting a supermarket security guard with a baseball bat, officials said.

After deliberating for 20 minutes, a jury convicted Paul Rizzo of second-degree assault and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, both felonies, said Rockland County District Attorney Thomas Zugibe.

Rizzo was inside theRockland Kosher Supermarket, 27 Orchard St., Monsey, when the attack occurred at 1:47 p.m. on Aug. 10, Zugibe said.

Rizzo began acting unruly and was asked to leave the store, but refused. During the dispute, Rizzo struck the security guard twice with the bat, injuring his left arm.

Rizzo, who was indicted by a grand jury on Sept. 12, was held Tuesday in the Rockland County jail, where he awaits sentencing on Sept. 30 by Rockland County Surrogate’s Court Judge Thomas Walsh. He faces up to seven years in state prison.