A Lakeland man was convicted in an Orange County courtroom on Wednesday in connection to a confrontation at a neo-Nazi demonstration in 2022.
A jury found Burt Colucci, 48, guilty of misdemeanor battery.
According to a release from the State Attorney’s Office, a counter-protester approached the group of white supremacist demonstrators gathered near the intersection of North Alafaya Trail and Waterford Lakes Parkway, which is east of Orlando.
The counter-protestor, identified as David Newstat, began arguing with the group as Colucci verbally harassed him, and the confrontation escalated. Colucci pepper sprayed Newstat, which was corroborated by witnesses and cellphone video of the incident.
Colucci was later arrested by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement in Polk County and charged with one count of assault and one count of battery, both with hate crime enhancements.
The release said Newstat had a symbol on his vehicle associated with the Jewish faith and was wearing a necklace that identified him as Jewish. The state argued that this provoked Colucci, in which Colucci admitted to harassing Newstat using profanity and anti-Semitic slurs during the trial.
However, he was acquitted of the assault charge and hate crime enhancements. Colucci was instead convicted of misdemeanor battery in a jury trial.