Injured Filipino couple won’t settle with assailants in violent attack in Sacramento

After meeting with legal team, Nicanor Arriola (in his hospital bed) decided not to settle with suspected assailants to teach them a lesson. CONTRIBUTED

The Southern California Filipino couple who was assaulted while strolling and taking pictures near the California State Capitol last February vowed not to settle with their assailants to help discourage similar attacks from being perpetrated on other people.

Photographer Nicanor Nikki Arriola and his wife, Julienne Ochengco, made the decision after meeting with prosecutors.

The couple believes they are victims of a hate crime, as the attackers specifically targeted them, the only Asians among other tourists in the vicinity.

Ironically, Arriola had been covering the rise of anti-Asian attacks in California as a photojournalist particularly the case of the Roque family who were verbally and physically assaulted at a McDonald’s restaurant drive-thru in North Hollywood last year.

“What we are sure at the moment is that we will push through with the case,” Arriola stressed. “Even those who will handle case for us claim that is a big strong case.”

The Arriolas met with Deputy District Attorney is Emilee Divinagracia and Assistant Deputy D.A. Rochelle Beardsley who, incidentally are both Filipinas that will handle our case,” happily shared Arriola.

Detained suspect

One of the suspects, Keylen Xavier Lee Farley, who is now detained at the Sacramento County Main Jail, was arraigned last March 15 before the Department 62 of the Sacramento Superior Court. The other suspect, still unidentified, is at large.

An investigation led to Farley’s arrest and the subsequent filing of three felony counts by the Sacramento District Attorney: two counts for robbery of the second degree and aggravated assault and a third count for elder abuse.

Farley allegedly attempted to steal a professional camera in broad daylight from Arriola who then had two large cameras on his shoulders. In the struggle captured on video, Arriola is seen being knocked to the ground.

Trying to keep a brave face, couple Nicanor Arriola (left) and wife Julienne Ochengco comfort each other in the hospital despite still suffering from the physical and psychological injuries they sustained from assault at the State Capitol in Sacramento. CONTRIBUTED

In the same video, Farley is seen dragging Arriola on the pavement and kicking him in the chest multiple times. Ochengco was also reportedly pushed to the ground as she tried to restrain the man from attacking her husband.

Farley then rushed to a getaway car driven by the other suspect while the victims were taken to the University of California Davis Medical Center.

Traumatic injuries

The elderly Arriola says he and his wife are still suffering from physical injuries, psychological trauma and are unable to work as caregivers as before.

“I suffered six broken ribs apart from bruises and abrasions. My wife’s knees suffered even more after the incident as she was already using a cane due to weakened knees for a month before the attack. She also had a lot of bruises even in her chest,” Arriola says. His wife, he says, suddenly burst into tears at the memory of the attack.

“We really need all the help and support we can get as bills kept piling up through the days that we cannot got to work and even had to attend to the case hearings,” Arriola appealed.

NaFFAA is raising funds for the couple at https://www.gofundme.com/f/vf6zak-fight-for-justice-elderly-filams-attacked, as well as NAFCON at tinyurl.com/helpthearriolas.”