A Bronx judge cut loose a teenager charged in a brutal gang attack on a 52-year-old man at a local McDonald’s, because the teen is at risk for coronavirus, court officials said.
Acting Supreme Court Justice Linda Poust-Lopez released Ernest Taluy, 18, without bail at his arraignment on attempted gang assault, assault, and weapons charges after the alleged violent attack at the 149th Street restaurant Sunday, according to police and court records.
Taluy, a reputed member of the Patterson YG street gang, was with four other youths when the attack took place at 6 a.m.
His release came nearly one month after Poust-Lopez cut loose 19-year-old Brandon Logan, another reputed Patterson YG member, without bail after he was charged with possession of a loaded gun — also over COVID-19 concerns, court officials said.
“Both defendants are young adults, one with no criminal record, and taking into account the overarching situation of a nationwide health pandemic, the judge clearly felt that their promise of returning to court outweighed the potential risk of illness by being incarcerated,” a spokesman for the state Office of Court Administration told The Post.
Logan has no criminal record — but Taluy does, including arrests for robbery, grand larceny and weapons possession, police said.
According to police and court records, he was with two 16-year-olds and two 17-year-olds when the McDonald’s attack took place.
The teens “repeatedly threw plastic cones and wooden high chairs/booster seats” at the victim, a Long Island City resident, according to a criminal complaint. Police used surveillance video from the restaurant to identify the teens, who were later arrested.
The victim was treated at a local hospital for a gash across his left eye and other injuries, the complaint said.
Taluy is due back on court on July 23.
The judge did not respond to a request for comment.
