Sandy MaloneBronx, NY – A 29-year-old man whom the state of New York released from prison on March 28 over fears of the coronavirus pandemic taking over correctional facilities was arrested again after he robbed and beat up a 62-year-old man.
The incident occurred at about 8 a.m. on April 7 on Valentine Avenue in the Bronx, according to the New York Post.
The victim, who walks with a cane, was leaving a bodega when he was approached by the recently-released Daniel Vargas.
Vargas demanded $80 from the victim, the New York Post reported.
When the victim did not hand over the money, Vargas attacked and began punching and kicking him.
According to the complaint, Vargas struck the older man, pushed him up against the wall, and then threw him to the ground, the New York Post reported.
Then he fled with the money.
The complaint said police apprehended Vargas a short time later, the New York Post reported.
Vargas was in prison in March for parole violations when he was released because of fears about the novel coronavirus in the state’s prison system.
His criminal record showed he had been arrested at least a dozen times for assault, robbery, weapons possession, and burglary, the New York Post reported.
Vargas was in state prison on a 2014 burglary conviction until November of 2017 when he was granted parole.
He returned to prison on parole violations and was held until his release was granted by a directive from the state on March 27, the New York Post reported.
State officials confirmed that “having met the criteria under the directive from March 27 to release certain low-level technical parole violators in response to the growing number of COVID-19 cases in local jails, Daniel Vargas parole was lifted on March 28.”
Vargas has been charged with robbery, grand larceny, and assault in connection with his attack and robbery of the elderly man, according to the criminal complaint.
He was being held on $50,000 bail, the New York Post reported.