NYC judge warns robber accused of robbing 7-year-old boy and slapping his mother

A Bronx judge warned violent robber Accused of robbing a 7 year old child and slapping her mother, saying she came “so close to going to Rikers Island just now” after being released from supervision, according to the court transcript.

Monique Fort, 48, was sentenced on October 17 before Judge Margaret W. Appeared before Martin – about three weeks after police said she molested About $3 The child’s hand and his mother’s hand cling to the wall inside Richards Fruit and Vegetables on Jerome Avenue in Mount Eden on September 24.

Martin granted Forte supervised release — police say he has 14 prior arrests — but issued a stern warning.

“Ms. Forte, I’m telling you right now. It may not seem like it, but you just came this close to going to Rikers Island,” the judge reprimanded her.

She said, “If you screw this up in any way, I’m taking you on remand, which means you could be the richest person on Earth, and that’s it, until these charges are resolved.” Till then you will not be able to get bail.” ,

“I make no joke. You’re walking out here and you’re thinking you’ve got to court. If you don’t show up and if you get arrested again for something new, you’re going to jail. Have been.

Three times, the judge asked Forte if she understood – to which the accused robber replied, “Yes.”

The judge also issued an order of protection to keep Forte away from the injured mother and her irate son.

Surveillance video of the shocking bodega robbery showed Forte popping his head into the door of the small market and charging at the boy, who was holding small bills in his hand.

She grabbed his money and turned to leave but ran into the boy’s 38-year-old mother – who tried to stop her while pushing another small child in a stroller, the video shows.

The bullying robber then slapped the mother on her face and ran away.

After the attack, the young boy was crying, shaking and apologizing to his mother for the attack, said Assistant District Attorney Gary McKenna.

According to the criminal complaint against him, Forte was charged with both felony and misdemeanor counts of aggravated robbery, grand theft, petty theft, criminal possession of stolen property, endangering the welfare of a child and harassment. .

At the beginning of the arraignment, Martin initially disputed the felony charge, arguing that “the facts do not warrant an allegation of serious bodily injury, which is an element.”

“And there is no allegation that any of the injuries that occurred here were caused by the use of any dangerous equipment,” Martin said.

“Really the only thing I see is a minor child being harassed,” argued Eric Scott, an attorney for the Fort’s Legal Aid Society.

But McKenna insisted that the serial perp be held on $20,000 cash bail, $60,000 insurance bond or a partially secured bond because of his arrest history and alleged failure to return to court.

McKenna said Forte has “three warrants out of New York County on very old cases” and “an assault case that’s before the Bronx Court, which was arraigned in late September.”

Police said this week that her other previous arrests were for robbery, reckless endangerment, prostitution and vagrancy.

“Don’t screw this up,” Martin advised Forte when the arraignment ended. “Now the supervised release people are going to interview you. No one will try to make it difficult for you.

“It’s about making sure you get back to court, you won’t be re-arrested and you know what it means to comply with the terms of the order of protection.”