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The “lowlife” thief charged with stealing a then-6-year-old Brooklyn boy’s scooter was ordered held on $50,000 bail Tuesday — while his lawyer took a cheap shot at the young victim.
“I don’t know why a 7-year-old is on an electric scooter,” Brooklyn Public Defenders’ attorney Sara Burleson, who represents accused scooter thief Daniel Ufares, griped at his arraignment.
Ufares, 59, was charged with second-degree attempted robbery, third-degree robbery, fourth-degree grand larceny, petty larceny, and menacing in the callous July 7 crime.
He kept his head bowed and said little as he faced Brooklyn Criminal Court Judge Quynta Santacroce, who also issued an order of protection ordering the accused thief to stay away from the young victim.
“Yes, ma’am,” was all Ufares said when the judge explained the order.
He is charged with the cold-hearted theft of the boy’s scooter in Borough Park, grabbing the handlebars and snatching the toy away from the youngster — with the callous crime caught on surveillance video.
Ufares was busted Monday and initially charged with possession of stolen property, admitting to cops that he swiped the scooter for drug money, according to police.
The boy’s dad said the incident left his son traumatized and that the scooter actually belonged to another son with special needs who needed it to get around.
The NYPD stepped up to help the family, buying them a new e-scooter for the boy, who has since turned 7.
Ufares ex-wife said she was surprised that even he would pull off such a heartless crime — despite his lengthy criminal history.
“I would never have thought he’d do that to kids,” she told The Post. “He’s a lowlife.”
Brooklyn prosecutor Wilfred Cotto wanted Ufares held on $100,000 bail at his arraignment Tuesday, saying he “is a repeat offender, two violent felonies, two parole revocations.”
Cotto said that includes a 1991 manslaughter case.
According to police and court records, Ufares was still on parole and supervised release for a 2010 Queens robbery conviction when he was busted in the scooter heist.
In court, Burleson, his lawyer, said her client suffers from addiction and needs help.
“He is not doing harm to anyone but himself, your honor,” she told the judge. “Mr. Ufares has addiction issues which need to be addressed. He needs greater assistance.”
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