A teen who slashed the face of a Greenwich Village busboy admitted that he did it but only after he was smacked by the restaurant worker, prosecutors said Wednesday in court.
“The defendant was in Silver Spurs restaurant collecting donations when he was asked to leave by the institution and escorted out by the complainant,” said ADA Eun-Ha Kim of 16-year-old Domincio Howington.
Bobby Barbot struck Howington who then whipped out a knife and “slashed him on the face” from his cheek to his chin, Kim said. The wound needed 130 stitches.
The prosecutor did not disclose why Barbot, 25, hit the teen in the face during the Feb. 17 altercation at the LaGuardia Place eatery.
Howington admitted to the crime during an interview with prosecutors, the ADA said at his arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court.
Defense lawyer Wendell Cruz asked for reasonable bail, arguing that the busboy was the aggressor.
“The complainant is at least nine years older and did initiate an assault, did strike him and made several attempts to strike him,” the lawyer said.
He added that Howington has no criminal record and is a member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
Judge Kevin McGrath set bail at $50,000 bond over $25,000 cash. He faces two counts of first-degree assault.