Inside New Castle Justice Court: Man Acused of Trying to Steal at Bank Has $25k Bail

A Bronx man who, police claim, tried to scam $5,000 from a Bank of America branch in Chappaqua, had bail set at $25,000 after a Thursday-night hearing in New Castle Justice Court.

Justice David S. Zuckerman, rejecting a defense appeal to free Ryan Richards, 22, in his own custody, ordered him held at the county jail in Valhalla pending a return appearance in court next week. Richards is charged with attempted grand larceny and two counts of second-degree possession of a forged instrument.

Police allege that Richards walked into the Bank of America branch Wednesday and tried to withdraw $5,000 from a real customer’s account on the strength of a fake New Jersey driver’s license and forged credit card. Both the card, from HSBC, and the license bore the customer’s name, police said, but the license’s photo ID was of Richards.

His Legal Aid Society lawyer, Clare J. Degnan, citing financial hardship, asked that Richards be released in his own custody. But Assistant District Attorney Michael Ashraf objected, saying the police in North Castle and in Connecticut were investigating bringing similar charges in their jurisdictions.

Plea Bargain Accepted, Reluctantly

Expressing misgivings, Zuckerman ratified a plea deal hammered out for Michael E. Canet, who was arrested last Nov. 28 on Millwood Road and charged with second-degree harassment, a violation, first-degree driving while under the influence of drugs and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, both misdemeanor crimes.

“I’m not sure I’m doing you any favors,” Zuckerman said in levying fines and surcharges of $605 and pulling Canet’s driver’s license for six months. Canet is on probation in Mamaroneck Village and still faces misdemeanor charges of fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property in Harrison and petit larceny in Mamaroneck Town.

Calling his acceptance of the plea deal “something I don’t ordinarily do,” Zuckerman said, “Your lawyer [defense counsel Andrew Spatz of Mamaroneck] convinced me.”

Canet, 40, thanked Zuckerman “for the opportunity to get back” and promised, “I will do the very best I can.”

Zuckerman then drew an imaginary line in the sand. “You can’t step on the line, let alone over it,” he warned. “I will put you in jail.” He set June 2 for payment of Canet’s fines.

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In other action Thursday, Zuckerman adjourned the case against alleged failed purse-snatcher Yan Carlos Abreu to April 14 while the defendant considers a prosecution offer to drop its third-degree robbery charge, a D felony, in return for a guilty plea to an A misdemeanor, which carries up to six months’ jail time.

The judge also refused to lift an order of protection he imposed on Joseph A. Raguso of Mount Kisco. Raguso, 48, facing charges in New Castle that include fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and second-degree reckless endangerment, is scheduled to return to court April 14. Before he left Thursday, Zuckerman admonished him, “Do not violate my order, sir.”