In an emotionally charged hearing, the teen charged with mowing down Ariel Russo, 4, on the Upper West Side was tossed back in the slammer Wednesday because of new charges that he helped his dad loot a deceased woman’s apartment.
When court officers cuffed Franklin Reyes, 18, friends and family of the slain girl erupted in cheers in Manhattan Supreme Court.
Reyes’ mother, Lilia, shot back from the other side of the gallery, “He’s innocent. He’s a kid, it was an accident!”
To that, a Russo family member shouted, “She was only 4 years old!”
Court officers unsuccessfully tried to restore maintain order.
“My son didn’t plan it! He was a regular ordinary kid. He didn’t plan to kill anyone,” she wailed as court officers, trying to restore order, escorted her from the courtroom.
“For God sakes, have mercy. He was only 17. Please!”
Reyes was fleeing a routine traffic stop when he struck Russo and her grandmother as they walked to the girl’s school in June 2013, authorities say.
He was rearrested last month while out on bail and charged with looting jewelry, shoes and wine from a pad in a Chelsea building where his father is the superintendent. His father was also charged in the theft.
Justice Gregory Carro raised Reyes’ bail from $25,000 to $50,000.
“Someone who is willing to engage in criminal conduct while out on bail is a flight risk,” he said.
Defense lawyer Martin Schmukler insisted his client wasn’t guilty of the theft charge. “It’s just bad luck, that’s all,” he said.
Assistant District Attorney Vera Varshavsky asked Carro to withdraw youthful-offender status, which would grant Reyes a more lenient sentence if he’s convicted in the death of Russo and seal his record. But the judge didn’t address the issue in open court Wednesday.
It’s unclear whether a previous plea offer of 15 months to 4 years if Reyes copped to the manslaughter and assault raps is off the table as a result of the new charge.
He faces 5 to 15 years behind bars if convicted as an adult in Russo’s death.
Russo’s family wants the judge to withdraw the youthful-offender offer.
“For the family to make statements such as ‘He’s a child, give him another chance,’ is outrageous,” said Scott Rynecki, the civil attorney for the tragic girl’s parents, Alan and Sofia.
“He didn’t give Ariel another chance. He didn’t give Ariel’s grandmother another chance. His actions were clearly heinous.”
A tearful Sofia was outraged by the outburst from Reyes’ mother.
“I’m still in shock,” she said outside the courthouse. “Her child is still alive and I had to see my child laying dead on a hospital stretcher … I hope that next time she’ll be more respectful of me and my pain.”
Reyes is due back in court Sept. 24 for a trial.