A man accused of attacking a local drag queen is requesting placement in a diversionary program, which would allow him to avoid jail time.
Carmelo Villanueva’s preliminary hearing was scheduled for June 26 before Municipal Court Judge Gerard A. Kosinski. The judge postponed the matter until Sept. 11 due to defense attorney Philip Steinberg’s Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program request. Prosecutor Mayra Reyes didn’t object to a postponement.
Outside the courtroom, Steinberg said his client is remorseful and willing to pay restitution costs to Aloe Vera, whose legal name is Anthony Veltre. “My client is legally and morally responsible to pay restitution for the victim’s injuries,” Steinberg told PGN. “He’s never wavered in his desire to do so.”
“Mr. Villanueva has embarked on a journey to clean up his act,” Steinberg said, noting that Villanueva is gainfully employed and has enrolled in anger-management classes.
“He wants to find out what caused him to punch a friend and break the person’s jaw,” Steinberg said. “He want to get to the bottom of what caused that to happen.”
Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition is a program that offers an alternative to incarceration for first-time offenders as approved by the D.A’s Office. Requirements of the program may include payment of restitution to the victim, attendance in anger-management classes and community service. An offender’s participation in ARD can last anywhere between six months to two years, depending on the agreement worked out with prosecutors. Upon completion of the program, the offender’s criminal record is expunged.
Villanueva, 34, faces charges including aggravated and simple assault, reckless endangerment, possessing an instrument of a crime and harassment arising from the April assault against Vera, who did not attend the court session and couldn’t be reached for comment.
Ben Waxman, a spokesperson for District Attorney Larry Krasner, said in a June 26 email: “This is still a pending matter and therefore we can’t comment further on the case. I can also confirm that any further developments on this case will take place in open court.”