By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Maxwell Book
BBC - Guardian UK - Honduras - ESPN
SDNY MAG COURT EXCLUSIVE, Nov 8 - In the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on November 8, a detention or bond proceeding was held by Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave on a defendant charged with using bear spray, hammers and a gun to rob a jewelry store in The Bronx of $800,000.
After legal arguments, he was detained. Inner City Press was there, the only media in the Mag Court.
The defendant Pablo Armando Valenzuela was brought into court after 5 pm, with a hospital bracelet on. It was explained that he had recently had surgery for thyroid cysts. His girlfriend, his sister and her boyfriend were in the gallery, along with Inner City Press.
Assistant US Attorney Amanda Weingarten noted that the defendant had been taken the hospital because he picked at a scab, and he still made it to the courthouse before the noon cut-off to be presented, albeit past 5 pm. She said while being arrested in his apartment on Sheridan Avenue in the Bronx, where the robbery she said was planned, the defendant tried to hide behind his mother.
The assigned Federal Defender asked for release on bond, noting the family support and that no gun had been recovered.
According to the complaint, "On August 10, 2022, VALENZUELA long with at least five other co-conspirators, committed an armed robbery of a jewelry store in the Bronx, New York, using a firearm, bear spray, and hammers. On the evening of August 10, VALENZUELA entered the jewelry store wearing a ski mask and sprayed a can of bear spray into the eyes of jewelry store employees, temporarily blinding them. Five other masked robbers entered the jewelry store, and used hammers to destroy glass display cases. At least one robber brandished a firearm. VALENZUELA and the other robbers then stole over $800,000 worth of jewelry before fleeing on mopeds, in cars, and by foot."
Judge Cave ordered Valenzuela detained as a risk to the community, and set the preliminary hearing for 14 days out, if he is not indicted by the grand jury before then. When asked, she allowed him a kiss with his girlfriend, who wept as he was led back into the holding cell.
The case is US v. Valenzuela, 22-mj-8912 (Cave)
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