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New York Post
22-05-2025
- New York Post
Creep with 13 priors cut loose by judge after alleged sex crime spree targeting teens, women
An unhinged creep with more than a dozen arrests who was charged last week for a sick Brooklyn sex crime spree was dumped back on the street by a perp-friendly judge who said he at least showed up at scheduled court dates for his many past cases, The Post has learned. Johnelle Beckum, 44 – who had 13 prior busts – is accused of groping two girls, 17 and 14, as well as a 55-year-old woman, and masturbating in front of another woman, 44, during a sickening May 14 spree that spanned two-and-a-half hours across Park Slope, cops and prosecutors said. But Beckum was granted supervised release Friday by Criminal Court Judge Philip Tisne, over Assistant District Attorney Daniel Berkowitz's request for $75,000 cash or $150,000 bond, according to a transcript of the appearance obtained by The Post. 'The people have asked for bail, and [it is] a very close case for me, sir, because I take these allegations very seriously,' Tisne said as he addressed Beckum in court. 'These are very serious allegations. You're facing serious time. You do have a criminal history.' Criminal Court Judge Philip Tisne granted supervised release to alleged serial groper Johnelle Beckum, 44, who had about a dozen prior arrests. Philip Tisne / LinkedIn 'You have had a lot of open cases, but I am persuaded by the fact that you haven't missed a court date since…2005,' he added. Beckum began his shameless string of crimes around 7:30 a.m. at 9th Street and 4th Avenue in Park Slope, where he allegedly crept up to a 17-year-old girl and said, 'I want to touch you,' according to cops and the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office. He squeezed her buttocks before taking off, cops said. About a half-hour later, Beckum allegedly targeted a 13-year-old girl on the landing of the staircase leading to the Manhattan-bound R train at the same intersection, cops said. 'Tie your shoe, come with me, we are going to have sex before you go to school,' Beckum eerily told the teen before grabbing her arm and attempting to lead her up the stairs, according to authorities and prosecutors. 'Tie your shoe, come with me, we are going to have sex before you go to school,' Beckum eerily told one of his victims, a 13-year-old girl, prosecutors said. Google Maps The fiend only let go when his terrified victim screamed, cops said. But that didn't end his disturbing spree – about two hours later, Beckum allegedly walked into a store on Fifth Avenue near Degraw Street, where he approached a 55-year-old woman and told her to take her clothes off, prosecutors said. He touched her breast as he caressed himself under his pants, cops said. About a half-hour later, Beckum made his way inside a physical therapy practice on Fifth Avenue near Douglass Street, where he asked for a massage, prosecutors said. When the receptionist, a 44-year-old woman, told him to wait because she was on a call, Beckum allegedly exposed himself and began masturbating in the waiting room, which is visible from the street, the DA's office said. Surveillance video recovered from both the office and the store matched the description provided by the two teen victims, who were on their way to school nearby, sources said. Beckum was arrested when 78th Precinct cops spotted him around 6:40 p.m. at Fourth Avenue and Ninth Street – the same spot where he allegedly began the lewd spree – recognizing him from a 2023 robbery and forcible touching arrest, according to the sources. He was slapped with multiple charges, including forcible touching, lewdness and acting in a manner injurious to a child, police said. Beckum's most recent prior bust was for allegedly punching a 62-year-old man, a stranger, in the face, and trying to throw him onto the tracks at the Flushing Avenue J/M station on March 9, 2024, cops said. After that arrest, he was found unfit to stand trial and sent to a mental health program – where he had two initial appearances, but ultimately decided to cop out of the program. That choice landed him back in a pre-trial court room on April 10, where he pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted assault and Judge Herbert Moses released him on his own recognizance pending sentencing, sources said. It was not immediately clear whether prosecutors had any objection to that release. His next appearance in that case is scheduled for June 9, records show. That subway assault case came up again in the courtroom as Tisne reviewed Beckum's latest arrest in the sickening Park Slope spree. 'You have open cases where you've been making your court dates,' Tisne said. 'Including an open indictment that charges, I think, crimes that have more significant exposure than this case.' Beckum's other 'most recent cases' were 'resolved' when he was found unfit to stand trial, according to Tisne. Beckum's Legal Aid attorney, Luke Schram, acknowledged his client's psychiatric history in court. 'He does have some mental health issues, as shown in the statement notice, where he's asking for medication,' Schram said. 'He denies these charges and will come to court on his own accord, but we would consent to supervised release if there's any concern regarding his ability to come to court.' Schram's argument was enough to convince Tisne – who placed him on Tier 2, Level 5 supervised release, 'the highest level of supervision that we offer,' the judge said. Tisne explained that Beckum would be required to check in with Brooklyn Justice Initiatives, the organization that runs the supervised release program, once a week. 'If you don't do the intake with them before you leave the courthouse, here today, a warrant will issue for your arrest,' Tisne said. 'So, make sure you do the intake.' 'BJI offers a series of programs, sir,' the judge added. 'If during the intake they recommend that there are certain programs that they think you should do because they think they will be helpful to you, it's my order that you do them.' Tisne also ordered that Beckum have no contact with the four victims of his pervy spree – which his attorney said would be no problem because they are strangers. His next appearance on the new case is scheduled for Sept. 18. A law enforcement source who was unhappy with Tisne's move to release Beckum said such actions are not uncommon for the judge. 'It appears that this judge tends to release individuals with mental health issues,' the source said. 'That's not helping them and the people around them.' Tisne, one of the Manhattan prosecutors assigned to the controversial 'hush money' case against Donald Trump, has only been on the bench since January, according to his LinkedIn. Back in February, Tisne also granted supervised release to Rondail Henry, 44 – a vagrant with 19 busts under his belt accused of stabbing a 15-year-old boy with a corkscrew in an unprovoked Brooklyn subway attack. Prosecutors had asked that Henry be held on $20,000 cash bail, a $40,000 bond or a $100,000 partially secured bond. Police said most of Henry's prior arrests were for petit larceny, possession of stolen property, fare evasion and violating an order of protection. 'The cops can't keep playing this catch-and-release game,' one frustrated law enforcement source said at the time. 'At some point the judicial [system] has to do their part before the 20th arrest is a homicide that we can't take back.'
Epoch Times
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Epoch Times
Actor Michael Pitt Charged With Sex Abuse, Assault
Michael Pitt, best known for his role on the HBO series 'Boardwalk Empire,' is facing a number of sexual abuse charges. The 44-year-old actor was According to court records, the actor was The alleged incidents occurred between April 2020 and August 2021, with Pitt pleading not guilty to all charges. Bail has been set at $15,000, and his next court appearance is Pitt's lawyer, Cary London, said he already had exonerating evidence and expected the case to be dismissed. 'Unfortunately, we live in a world where somebody like Mr. Pitt—an accomplished professional who would never so much as contemplate these crimes—can be arrested on the uncorroborated word of an unhinged individual,' London told The Epoch Times in an email. 'We look forward to proving his innocence through the evidence and not thru the media.' He added, 'In reality, this baseless claim is suspiciously raised some four or five years after the alleged incident, from a time when the two parties were in a completely consensual relationship.' The Brooklyn District Attorney's Office indictment, obtained by The Epoch Times, details each incident with the victim's name redacted. It is unclear from the documents alone whether there is a sole victim involved or if there are multiple individuals accusing Pitt of the crimes, or the nature of their relationship with him. Related Stories 5/5/2025 5/2/2025 According to the indictment, Pitt is accused of inappropriately touching 'by means of forcible compulsion' on or between April 19 and 20, 2020. He is also accused of engaging in a sexual act by means of forcible compulsion and attempting to cause injury with a dangerous instrument or deadly weapon in August that same year. The indictment also alleges Pitt attacked an individual with a cinder block twice in June 2021 and choked them in August 2021. With 50 acting In 2011 and 2012, he was recognized for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series by the Screen Actors Guild for 'Boardwalk Empire.'
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Yahoo
Man accused of starting multiple fires in NYCHA developments: FDNY
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11) — A 25-year-old man was arrested in connection with a string of arson fires in NYCHA developments, the FDNY announced Thursday. Unique Cherry was charged with arson and criminal mischief, among other charges. More Local News Cherry was identified as a suspect in a fire at 1430 Bergen Street in Brooklyn in January, officials say. He was eventually arrested on May 6. During interrogation, Cherry confessed to the fire at Bergen Street, in addition to two other fire incidents, officials say. The Brooklyn District Attorney's Office will prosecute the case. Submit tips to police by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), visiting downloading the NYPD Crime Stoppers mobile app, or texting 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. Spanish-speaking callers are asked to dial 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). Ben Mitchell is a digital content producer from Vermont who has covered both local and international news since 2021. He joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Actor Michael Pitt arrested on sexual abuse charges
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways "Boardwalk Empire" actor Michael Pitt was arrested and indicted in Brooklyn on Friday on charges of sexual abuse, criminal sex act, assault and strangulation, according to court documents. The actor pleaded not guilty and was released until his next court date in June. Steve Buscemi on his role in the new satirical comedy 'The Death of Stalin' The charges stem from alleged incidents that occurred in 2020 and 2021, according to the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office. The indictment alleges Pitt sexually abused an unnamed individual in April 2020 "by means of forcible compulsion." PHOTO: Michael Pitt seen at 'Day Of The Fight' Special Screening at DGA Theater Complex on December 06, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Eric Charbonneau/KCFEOLA PR via Getty Images) In August 2020, the indictment claims he allegedly forced oral sex on an individual. The indictment claims Pitt allegedly injured an individual with "a four by four" that same month. In June 2021, the indictment claims Pitt allegedly assaulted an individual with a cinderblock. In August 2021, the indictment claims he allegedly tried to strangle someone. Individual identities are redacted in the indictment, so it is unclear if one or more persons is making allegations against Pitt. In a statement to ABC News on Wednesday, Pitt's attorney James Goldman said, "Unfortunately, we live in a world where somebody like Mr. Pitt -- an accomplished professional who would never so much as contemplate these crimes -- can be arrested on the uncorroborated word of an unreliable individual. In reality, this baseless claim is suspiciously raised some four or five years after the alleged incident, from a time when the two parties were in a completely consensual relationship. We have already uncovered exonerating evidence and this case will be dismissed." Pitt is best known for his role as Jimmy Darmody in the hit Atlantic City-based period crime drama "Boardwalk Empire." Haley Joel Osment arrested at California ski resort for alleged public intoxication In his role, Pitt starred opposite Steve Buscemi as an up-and-coming gangster in the underground crime world portrayed in the show. Pitt, who also appeared in "Dawson's Creek" earlier in his career, has taken on several television roles since the end of "Boardwalk Empire," appearing in several episodes the NBC show "Hannibal." He's also starred in film roles such "The Dreamers" and "Last Days." Actor Michael Pitt arrested on sexual abuse charges originally appeared on
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
Actor Michael Pitt arrested on sexual abuse charges
"Boardwalk Empire" actor Michael Pitt was arrested and indicted in Brooklyn on Friday on charges of sexual abuse, criminal sex act, assault and strangulation, according to court documents. The actor pleaded not guilty and was released until his next court date in June. The charges stem from alleged incidents that occurred in 2020 and 2021, according to the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office. The indictment alleges Pitt sexually abused an unnamed individual in April 2020 "by means of forcible compulsion." In August 2020, the indictment claims he allegedly forced oral sex on an individual The indictment claims Pitt allegedly injured an individual with "a four by four" that same month. In June 2021, the indictment claims Pitt allegedly assaulted an individual with a cinderblock. In August 2021, the indictment claims he allegedly tried to strangle someone. Individual identities are redacted in the indictment, so it is unclear if one or more persons is making allegations against Pitt. In a statement to ABC News on Wednesday, Pitt's attorney James Goldman said, "Unfortunately, we live in a world where somebody like Mr. Pitt -- an accomplished professional who would never so much as contemplate these crimes -- can be arrested on the uncorroborated word of an unreliable individual. In reality, this baseless claim is suspiciously raised some four or five years after the alleged incident, from a time when the two parties were in a completely consensual relationship. We have already uncovered exonerating evidence and this case will be dismissed." Pitt is best known for his role as Jimmy Darmody in the hit Atlantic City-based period crime drama "Boardwalk Empire." In his role, Pitt starred opposite Steve Buscemi as an up-and-coming gangster in the underground crime world portrayed in the show. Pitt, who also appeared in "Dawson's Creek" earlier in his career, has taken on several television roles since the end of "Boardwalk Empire," appearing in several episodes the NBC show "Hannibal." He's also starred in film roles such "The Dreamers" and "Last Days."
