Prosecutors have hit a Staten Island man with hate crime charges for allegedly taking part in mugging a teen born without arms. Vincent Popalardo, 20, was arraigned yesterday on 12 assault and robbery charges stemming from the November 30th attack on Carlos Simon, 18, outside a Port Richmond shopping plaza. Richmond County district attorneys claim Popalardo and two teenagers singled out Simon because of his condition.
"All crimes are unacceptable, but those committed against an individual because of his or her disability are particularly despicable," Staten Island DA Michael McMahon said in a statement.
Simon, a freshman at the College of Staten Island, told the Staten Island Advance that he was waiting outside a Dunkin' Donuts when a group of teenagers approached and made comments about his physique. One, a girl, asked for money, and when he refused, four others came over and surrounded him, he said. His cellphone was reportedly sitting on a ledge outside the donut shop and, as he was immobilized, Popalardo allegedly grabbed it and ran. Simon said he tried to walk away but the others, after pretending to help him chase the phone thief, surrounded him again and went through his pockets.
"I kind of maneuvered and pushed them off me as much as I could," he told the paper. "They tried to drop me on my back, but it's a good thing I have strong legs."
Simon eventually broke free and found refuge in the Dunkin' Donuts.
Cops arrested Popalardo last month in Erie, Pennsylvania, and the authorities extradited him to Staten Island. Police arrested a 13-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl back in mid-December and charged them with robbery as juveniles.
Popalardo faces more serious trouble: 10 felony and two misdemeanor charges, including two felony robbery as a hate crime charges that carry as many as 25 years in prison each, four counts that carry 15-year maximums, and three that carry 7-year maximums.
Popalardo pleaded not guilty at his court appearance yesterday. A judge set his bail at $50,000, which his lawyer, noting that Popalardo is unemployed, said was "50 times as much as Mr. Popalardo is able to raise."
