ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — A woman who admitted pushing a 75-year-old man to the ground in a Culver Road parking lot, fatally injuring him, was sentenced to probation and prison time Friday.
Toni Palermo was sentenced on March 6 to five years of probation and 10 weekends in prison. She pleaded guilty to second-degree assault in December.
Surveillance video from August 2025 shows Palermo getting out of his car in a parking lot on Culver Road and pushing James Spampinato to the ground, prosecutors said. The confrontation occurred after Spampinato honked his horn to alert people that he was pulling into a parking space.
In court on Friday, family members described the emotional and physical toll the attack took.
“This was a life-changing act of violence,” his daughter Krista said in a statement, adding, “Justice was done. Justice was done. Justice was done. Justice was done. Justice was done. Justice was done. Justice was done. Justice was done. Justice was done.”
Spampinato’s own statement was read aloud by the lawyer. He stated in the letter that he could no longer move as he had before and had become dependent on others to complete daily tasks.
Krista said her father’s injuries prevented him from walking her down the aisle at her wedding. He attended the ceremony in a wheelchair but was unable to stay for the reception.
“I’m glad he was there, but he was in a wheelchair for the ceremony and then had to go home,” she said. “I had to readjust my life, my schedule, and my family. So now it’s time for her to feel the consequences and take responsibility for what she did to him.”
Assistant District Attorney Mikael Pelki of the Special Victims Unit said hearing directly from victims is powerful.
“It’s very exciting because you hear the direct impact of James’ words,” Pelkey said. “I’m really thankful that I was able to be there during the process that they were going through and that they actually finally saw Miss Palermo being held accountable.”
Palermo was initially arrested after police identified her as a suspect. She initially pleaded not guilty but later admitted in court that she intended to cause harm when she pushed Spampinato.
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