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Accused BB gun robber held on $2,500 bail in Riverhead

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A 20-year-old man from Riverhead charged with robbing a man of his wallet and cellphone with a BB gun is being held on bail after his arraignment in town court Wednesday morning.

In Riverhead Town court Wednesday, prosecutor Patrick Fedun said Justus Davender hit the victims’ head and demanded money and his cell phone at gunpoint on Wilson Avenue about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday.

After the victim gave cops a description of the suspect, police located Mr. Davender — who they say matched that description — not far from Wilson Avenue on Charles Street, according to a police report.

Justus Davender was arrested and was found to have a “realistic looking BB handgun” along with the victim’s wallet, according to the report. He was charged with second-degree robbery, a felony.

Prosecutors asked Town Justice Lori Hulse to set bail at $30,000, citing the severity of the crime. But Mr. Davender’s defense attorney, Sheila Guiffrida, said the Riverhead man didn’t have the money to make bail.

Ms. Guiffrida said Mr. Davender had never been arrested before and has lived in Riverhead for 11 years. With his mother in court to support him, Mr. Davender expressed interest in a drug rehab program, the attorney said. Ms. Guiffrida asked for Mr. Davender to be released on his own recognizance, a request Ms. Hulse denied.

The court set bail at $2,500. Mr. Davender will next appear in court on Monday.

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