The “nightmare neighbor” accused of terrorizing his black neighbors smiled as he was escorted into a New York courtroom for a bail hearing on Wednesday.
68-year-old Steven Attanasso allegedly scrawled “n*****” on his door and his disturbing behavior was filmed multiple times.
He lives in the Ebbets Field apartment building in Brooklyn and was caught on surveillance camera threatening to kill and burn his neighbors – and in one case, he was seen brandishing a knife.
's cameras captured him standing before Judge Danny Chun at Kings County Superior Court in downtown Brooklyn.
Attanasso occasionally smiled for the cameras as he was brought in to find out whether he would be released on bail.
Steven Attanasso, the “nightmare neighbor” accused of terrorizing his black neighbors, flashed a smile even as he was escorted into a New York courtroom for a bail hearing on Wednesday
's cameras captured Attanasso as he stood before Judge Danny Chun at Kings County Superior Court in downtown Brooklyn
He was initially denied bail because he attempted to pay with a credit card and was returned to Rikers' Island.
However, the judge informed him that he would be released if he could post the $50,000 cash bail.
Among the charges against him is that making terroristic threats is a hate crime, meaning the act is motivated by racial bias. He is also accused of harassment, weapons possession and disorderly conduct.
In September, the 68-year-old appeared to show no remorse for the alleged crimes as he pleaded not guilty.
His lawyer argued that it was actually his neighbors who had harassed him, describing the “notorious racist” as “frail, not dangerous and should be sent home pending trial.”
“He would like to return to his homeland, he will stay away from his neighbors,” lawyer Morris Shamuil said in court.
Judge Chun sided with the prosecution and urged the judge to impose bail and order Attanasso to stay away from his own residence.
“He said he was going to burn and kill all the neighbors,” said prosecutor Sharmalee Brooks.
Because he tried to pay with a credit card, he was initially denied bail and returned to Rikers' Island
Attanasso was told by Judge Chun that he would be released if he was able to post cash
Steven Attanasso, 68, suspected of arson and accused of terrorizing his black neighbors, has been ordered to stay away from his New York City apartment as he faces new hate crime charges
Judge Chun set bail at $50,000, but it remains unclear whether Attanasso would be able to pay that amount
Attanasso, who had “n*****” scrawled on his door and whose disturbing behavior was filmed multiple times, was indicted Monday in a grand jury indictment in Superior Court in downtown Brooklyn
Judge Chun said there was a “complete stay away order,” meaning the suspect could only return home to collect his belongings under police supervision.
The 68-year-old's lawyer appealed to the judge to reconsider, saying it would leave Attanasso homeless.
However, it was a relief for neighbors who resorted to unusual methods to stay safe.
“I slept with a fire extinguisher next to my bed,” said neighbor Tony Armstrong.
“Who wants to live under the threat of violence because of the color of their skin?”
The abhorrent behavior was first uncovered by the NBC New York I-Team as the NYPD investigated a deadly arson attack in April, the main suspect of which is Attanasso.
For more than a year, neighbors have documented Attanasso's bumbling behavior, filming him waving a knife through the halls, slamming their doors with a hammer and shouting racial slurs.
“He'll scream, 'Ahhh, fuck you, I'm going to kill you,'” a neighbor named Raquel told the outlet during their investigation.
The outlet revealed that neighbors had spent nearly a year making 911 calls about Attanasso's alleged threats and violent behavior.
In April, Attanasso was caught on tape saying, “Black people, we're going to burn you.” Right now you're really brown, when we're done with you you'll be black.
Three days later, police said a suspicious fire was started using a mattress from Attanasso's apartment in the hallway – he is the only suspect in the investigation, but no charges were filed
Despite multiple arrests and visits to a psychiatric hospital, the nightmare neighbor continued to be released each time.
The fire resulted in the death of 66-year-old black veteran Roderick Coley
In April, Attanasso was caught on tape saying, “Black people, we're going to burn you. 'Right now you're really brown, when we're done with you you're going to be black.'
Three days later, police told the outlet that a suspicious fire was started in the hallway containing a mattress from Attanasso's apartment.
The fire resulted in the death of 66-year-old black veteran Roderick Coley. The NYPD said Attanasso was their only suspect in the matter, but no arson charges were filed because there were no eyewitnesses, multiple law enforcement sources told the I-Team.
Neighbors said they “lived in fear” as there “never seemed to be any consequences.”
“I'm not holding my breath because will it be like it was the last time he went in for a few hours and then came back out,” Beverly Newsome, a tenants association president, told the outlet.
The matter is still under investigation.