Three months ago, indicted Assemblyman Eric Stevenson rode off from Manhattan federal court in a shiny black Mercedes-Benz sedan — after telling a judge he didn’t have enough money to defend himself against bribery charges.
A month later, he fetched a cab following a court hearing.
And today, after he entered a not guilty plea to an additional extortion charge, the Bronx Democrat hoofed it through Lower Manhattan for some Texas BBQ on Fulton Street.
Stevenson declined to discuss his appetite or finances — except to say he recently cancelled a planned fundraiser to help pay his legal fees. He continued to contend he’s innocent and didn’t pocket more than $20,000 in cash and campaign contributions as prosecutors claim.
“I am praying for justice,” he said outside court.
Stevenson in May also pleaded not guilty to five counts of conspiracy and bribery in the alleged scheme to help four co-defendants open adult day-care centers and pass legislation to protect them from competition. He got caught in a sting operation in which his co-defendants paid bribes to former Assemblyman Nelson Castro [D-Bronx], who is cooperating with authorities to avoid prosecution for perjury.
On Tuesday, Castro pleaded guilty to making false statements to federal officials — four months after copping a plea deal for lying to officials in the other case.