INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) — It's been nearly a year since James Yacconi was assaulted in an apparent case of road rage.
"Really excited it's finally going to trial," Yacconi said.
Yacconi spent a week in the hospital last March with his jaw broken in two places. The Army veteran said he's feeling much better, though still on meds and still getting bills totaling close to $32,000.
Right now, he said, he's not worried about the money. He's focused on "seeing justice served."
Daniel Dombrowski, 22, goes to trial in a Marion County court Wednesday. He's charged with felony 6 battery resulting in moderate bodily injury.
Yacconi said he wants to see Domwbrowksi "taken away in handcuffs and going to jail."
It was an unseasonably warm March afternoon when Yacconi took his new Harley Davidson motorcycle out for a ride. While going south on Madison Avenue, he slowed down to tell a fellow Lyft driver his brake light was out.
The driver, who had a dash cam, can be heard thanking Yacconi and telling his passenger how grateful he was for simple acts of kindness.
Soon after, a man driving a white car passes Yacconi and when they get to a stoplight, he jumps out his car and confronts Yacconi.
"I'm telling him I'm helping a fellow driver, and he comes up and punches me hard," Yacconi recalled. "I saw a shiny object. I don't know if it was a ring or brass knuckles. Next thing, I fall into the red car next to me."
The driver took off.
While two witnesses picked Dombrowski out of a lineup, he was bald and clean-shaven. A drawing Yacconi did of the suspect showed a man with long hair and facial hair.
Two months later, Yacconi, looking online for information on CBD oil, recognized Dombrowski in an ad.
"I called the detective. I was 100 percent sure."
Police issued an arrest warrant but it wasn't until August that Yacconi traced him to a small hotel in Cave City, Kentucky through a Facebook post that led to Dombrowski's arrest.
"The beauty of online is you're going to find anyone online even if they're trying to hide," Yacconi said. "If you're posting stuff on Facebook or social media, you're going to get found."
He's heard Dombrowski is claiming self-defense, but Yacconi said two witnesses and the dash cam video indicate otherwise.
"It's like, where in the video do you see me assaulting you? You never hear me threaten him or assault him," he said.
Yacconi said he's glad he may finally find closure.
"It's very important to me, my wife and family, and all our friends who want to see justice," he said.
What happens next will be in the hands of a jury.
A public defender is representing Dombrowski. Eyewitness News tried but was unable to reach her.
Jury selection in the case begins at 8:30 Wednesday morning.