By Shayna Jacobs
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN SUPREME COURT — A teen robbery suspect who allegedly mugged three people with a fake gun in Central Park this week was arraigned and released on $150,000 bail Friday.
Jesse Wasserman, 17, a high school student from New Rochelle, N.Y., faces up to 25 years in prison on each of three counts of first-degree robbery if he's convicted, prosecutors said at his criminal court arraignment.
The teen was identified by two of the three alleged victims from whom he stole a bicycle, wallet, cell phone, debit card, ring and ID card by threatening them with a phony revolver, according to prosecutors.
"Give me your bike and your money," he told the second victim while holding a fake firearm against the man's head at about midnight on Thursday, the criminal complaint said.
All three victims turned over their possessions when Wasserman pointed the phony pistol at them, prosecutors said.
He then tried to flee police on a stolen bicycle, prosecutors said.
"He was apprehended moments after the last robbery," Assistant District Attorney Mao Lin said at the arraignment.
Wasserman and another suspect, who remains at large, were described as wearing red T-shirts when they approached the victims as a pair, police said.
Police added Friday they did not believe the crimes were gang-related.
A man police originally thought was the second mugger was arrested and released Thursday after they determined he was not involved, the NYPD said.
On Friday at his arraignment, Wasserman's mother posted his bail in cash and drove her son home herself in a car parked three blocks from the courthouse.
His mother, a rabbi and two men his attorney described as friends were present for his arraignment.
The lawyer, Norman Steiner, described Wasserman as a hard-working high school student who has a construction job and participates in religious activities.
"The family supports and stands by him," Steiner said. "They look forward to a time in the near future when this is behind him."
