A man with a long history of offenses has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after a violent attack on a 91-year-old cancer patient on the Upper East Side.
Christian Torres, 45, was sentenced on Wednesday for violently assaulting Highman Silvergrad during an attempted robbery on February 1, 2024. He pushed Silvergrad to the ground and continued the assault while trying to take his wallet.
The brutal attack left Silvergrad, who was already battling cancer and kidney issues, with six fractures, a rib break, a liver hematoma, and another fracture in his spine.
During a victim impact statement, Silvergrad described the intense pain he suffered afterward, saying, “I thought death was better than the pain I was experiencing.” He shared that his mobility has been severely affected, leaving him bedridden and only able to leave his home for medical appointments.
On the night of the attack, Silvergrad was returning home with groceries around 10:25 PM when Torres attempted to steal his wallet before launching the attack. The police noted Torres has multiple prior arrests and convictions.
Torres was apprehended more than a week later.
In a letter to the court, Silvergrad requested that the severity of the attack be considered in sentencing, emphasizing that his attacker had a recent history of incarceration but continued to pose a threat.
Records indicate that Torres had served time in state prison from January 2022 to April 2023 for a robbery conviction in the Bronx. His criminal history dates back to 1998, including charges of arson and robbery.
Surveillance footage captured Torres before the attack.
Torres was out on supervised release when he targeted Silvergrad.
District Attorney Alvin Bragg highlighted that the attack was unprovoked and expressed hope that the sentencing provides victims with a sense of closure as they recover from such traumatic experiences. He reiterated the office’s commitment to holding accountable those who endanger older residents in the community.
