Batavia, N.Y. -- A woman convicted of assaulting a Genesee County Walmart cashier was sentenced to five years in prison Wednesday morning.
Jacquetta Simmons, 27, was found guilty of assault in August. In court, she said she was sorry for the incident that injured Grace Suozzi on Christmas Eve in 2011.
Simmons punched 70-year-old Grace Suozzi in the face, and she fell to the ground. The incident was captured on security cameras inside the store. That video was part of the evidence used to convict Simmons.
In court, Suozzi broke down as she told the court how her life has changed since that attack: "what she has taken away is irreplaceable, she has taken away my independence...she has taken away my joy and replaced it with trauma."
Suozzi says she is bruised, afraid, depressed and cannot leave the house. She relied on that Walmart job to pay her bills and is now struggling.
Suozzi said there were times when she thought she would die following the assault. She says she suffers to this day, both physically and emotionally.
The judge called the assault "brutal and senseless."
Simmons attorney says they will appeal the conviction.
Outside of court Grace Suozzi's daughter thanked the community for supporting her mother. She said Grace received over 600 cards from people in the community wishing her well.
