Sleepy Hollow Man Who Used Instagram to Taunt Prosecutor Receives Sentence In Absentia

A Sleepy Hollow man, who was sentenced in absentia for assault after failing to appear in court as the jury deliberated, taunted the assistant district attorney via Instagram.

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced Wednesday Ronald DeJesus Plaza, 25, was sentenced to 10 years in prison followed by five years post-release supervision.

Plaza was convicted Dec. 7 of two counts of first-degree assault.

He attacked a stranger in June 2014 who had just come out of an Aqueduct Avenue nightclub in Kingsbridge section of the Bronx.

The victim was punched in the face and had his nose broken by Plaza, who also slashed the man’s face numerous times.

An unapprehended man held the victim and stabbed him in the back several times.

The victim had injuries that required nearly two dozen stitches and staples to his face and head.

Plaza turned himself in to police 11 days later.

Closing arguments for the two-week-long jury trial were delivered Dec. 3, 2015, and Plaza failed to show up in court the next day.

The jury was given its instructions and began deliberations, while a bench warrant was issued for Plaza’s arrest.

At some point over the following weekend, Plaza posted a photograph of an expensive rum to an Instagram account with a message to the assistant district attorney—Karl Miller—who prosecuted his case.

The message said, “Salute Mr. Miller, this is a good rum.”

Plaza also has an open arrest warrant in Westchester County for failing to appear before a court on an attempted murder case.

Photo credits: Courtesy.