THE BRONX — The man who viciously beat a 65-year-old school bus driver following a minor car accident has been sentenced to nine years behind bars for attempted manslaughter.
Juan Delvalle was driving his bus just before noon on June 11, 2012, when he clipped 32-year-old Joey Scott's double-parked car by Anthony Avenue and Echo Place, according to the Bronx District Attorney's Office.
Scott saw the damage to his car and demanded that Delvalle pay him for it and not call the police, and when Delvalle refused, Scott punched him in the face twice, the Bronx DA's Office said.
Delvalle fell down, hit his head on the pavement, went unconscious and was taken to the hospital, where he was put on life support and died from his injuries on June 22, officials said.
Scott pled guilty to attempted manslaughter on May 19 and now faces nine years in prison and five years of post-release supervision for his crime.
Delvalle's daughter Mariela Delvalle spoke at the sentencing and said that Scott's actions had permanently saddened the lives of her family.
"Everything in our lives that includes new or old memories will always be tainted by your violence," she said. "My inability to forget what your actions caused constantly resurfaces when I want to tell my father of a success or ask for his advice."
She asked God to forgive her for being so angry at Scott and said she would try to carry on for her own children, who she knows her father would be proud of.
"The day my father passed away was just as heartbreaking as the day he wasn't there to see my daughters, his granddaughters, graduate from high school or get accepted into college," she said.
Scott spoke at his sentencing as well and repeatedly apologized for killing Delvalle, saying he was not an animal and implying that there was more to the case than just him getting mad about a minor car accident.
"I truly from the bottom of my heart apologize," he said, "because I did not mean for that man to die."
