In Other Media-eg New Statesman, AJE, FP, Georgia, NYT,  Azerbaijan, CSM Click here to contact us     .

By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Maxwell Book
BBC-Guardian UK - Honduras - Scoop - Credit

SDNY MAG COURT EXCLUSIVE, August 25 -  In the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on August 4, a detention or release proceeding was held by Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker on a defendant charged with throwing a Molotov cocktail onto the front porch of a house in The Bronx, and of being the driver for a co-defendant who threw a Molotov cocktail at a car.

   The house-bomber, with a Federal Defender, was released on $15,000 bond. The car-bomber, with the day's Criminal Justice Act counsel, didn't even ask for a bail hearing. At the end he was led out asking, "So I'm staying in jail?" His significant other in the gallery, where Inner City Press was the only media as on the July 29 Azerbaijan AK-47 stalker of an Iranian dissident (story here, credited here).

On August 24, the defendant who was released on conditions including drug treatment was back for a bail revocation, which it barely avoided. Inner City Press was present and live tweeted here:

OK - now bail revocation hearing on man freed on bail after 2 Molotov cocktails. He took drugs into his rehab program. 2 US Marshals are here 

Judge Sarah L. Cave: He's getting drugs from somewhere...

Federal Defender: The fiancee has been out of the country.

AUSA Amanda Weingarten: He fled Odysey House on Aug 10. He wants Cornerstone but they don't take his insurance. He didn't answer Samaritan Village's calls.

Judge: Could Pre-Trial search his home? He says he would consent. But Pre-Trial says they don't do searches.

Judge will not detain him. Instead, home incarceration. Judge will call him tomorrow. Public? 

But "tomorrow" - August 25, the defendant was again in SDNY, before District Judge Gregory H. Woods. And in a lengthy proceeding in which additional violations were alleged, including drinking liters of water to defeat the drug test - Judge Woods said he would disregard this disputed issue - he was ordered detained.

  The two Marshals, who had listened to the proceeding and ruling, moved in. The Pre-Trial Services officer had to remain to take back the ankle bracelet. AUSA Weingarten asked that he not be housed in the same jail as Mendez. Judge Woods said he would leave that up to the Bureau of Prisons. We will continue to follow this case.

Here is the blow by blow of the arson duo's first proceeding, here:

Ok - back in SDNY Magistrates Court, co-defendants Chowdhry (sp) and Mendez being presented after arrest yesterday, and hospitalization. Fire Marshal at US table.

Charge is "possessing an unregistered Molotov cocktail on June 8, 2022." Also July 24, arson in The Bronx. Both defendants have family in the gallery (where Inner City Press is the only media, like last Friday on Azerbaijan AK47 stalking of Iran dissident.

 Notably, Mendez with CJA lawyer Gunther consent to detention, while Chowdhry charged with arson is.applying for bail, with Federal Defender.

AUSA Amanda Weingarten: Chowdhry made another arson threat on July 27. He was convicted before, pled down to criminal mischief. He is tied to Bangladesh. FD: HIs brother us here, and family friend who is a behavioral therapist

 FD: Chowdhry worked at Aramark as a bartender: he buys, fixes and sells cars. The illegal weapon was a gravity knife, now legal. The Molotovs were small.

Judge: Molotov cocktails are a weapon of war, the Ukrainians are using them

 FD: Chowdhry had ACL surgury and became addicted to Oxy and alcohol. He was taken to the hospital and given Librium.

AUSA Weingarten: Chowdhry's target was also from Bangladesh. He's had 6 bench warrants. Judge: I'm going to release him on $15,000 bond

 Judge: No contact with those he's threatened. FD: We don't know who they are. AUSA: Victim asked not to be identified on the record.

Judge: After rehab  Chowdhry can work. But not in a bar.  [Less accused co-defendant Mendez will remain retained? Yes.] Adjourned.

The case is US v. Mendez, et al., 22-mj-6150 (Parker)

***

Your support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our Patreon page. Click here to become a patron.

Feedback: Editorial [at] innercitypress.com
SDNY Press Room 480, front cubicle
500 Pearl Street, NY NY 10007 USA

Mail: Box 20047, Dag Hammarskjold Station NY NY 10017

Reporter's mobile (and weekends): 718-716-3540

Other, earlier Inner City Press are listed here, and some are available in the ProQuest service, and now on Lexis-Nexis.

 Copyright 2006-2022 Inner City Press, Inc. To request reprint or other permission, e-contact Editorial [at] innercitypress.com