The Westchester County district attorney say a Yonkers man was sentenced to 15 years in prison for attacking a man with a brick and hammer on a Yonkers sidewalk in March 2021.

Juan Rodriguez, 38, was found guilty of robbery, assault and criminal possession of a weapon. He will also be subject to five years of post-release supervision. 

Officials say that Rodriquez hid behind a tree, then approached the victim from behind and threw a brick at the back of the victim’s head as he walked on the sidewalk on Riverdale Avenue in Yonkers, causing him to fall to the ground. Rodriguez then struck the victim in the face multiple times with a hammer, stole $30 from his hand and fled the scene.  

Authorities say surveillance video captured Rodriguez picking up the brick from behind the tree and removing the hammer from his waistband as he watched the victim, whom he knew, and cross Riverdale Avenue before attacking him. The attack itself was also captured on surveillance video.   

Officials say the victim was transported to Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx, where he underwent facial reconstruction surgery, received permanent plates and screws in his face and a mesh net to hold up his eye. They say the victim underwent an additional surgery to treat his injuries, and continues to suffer nerve damage, numbness, headaches and has difficulty opening his mouth and eating.