'Anthony Jr.' Declares Innocence
July 6 -- An abashed Robert Iler says he feels "terribly embarrassed" over being arrested and accused of mugging two tourists in New York City for $40 but insists he is innocent of the alleged robbery
The 16-year-old actor, who plays Anthony Soprano Jr., the equally trouble-prone son of a mob boss on HBO's The Sopranos, was arrested Wednesday morning after two Brazilian teenagers fingered Iler and his friends as the group that robbed them earlier that morning outside a deli on Manhattan's Upper East Side.
In a statement issued through a spokesman, Dan Klores, Iler declared his innocence. "I never ever would or did rob anyone in my life," he said. "I know that the events of the past two days have been extremely difficult for my family and friends, and for that I am sorry."
Iler's defense attorney said his client had his back turned and never saw the alleged robbery or heard any demand for money.
Iler Is a 'Good Kid,' Say Attorney, Sopranos Creator"Robert Iler is a good kid. He just plays a character. He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time," defense attorney Steven Mintz told Reuters.David Chase, creator and executive producer of The Sopranos, defended Iler in a statement released to the press, "Robert is a really great kid. I'd be proud to have him as my son. As it is, he's a friend and a colleague. If he says he didn't rob anybody, then he didn't. It's as simple as that for me."According to the criminal complaint, Iler and his friends threatened their victims, saying, "Give us your money. Do you want to die? Do you want to die?" The victims, Tiago Cordiero and Eduardo Weiss, both 16, flagged down a police car and with the officers spotted the alleged robbers sitting on a park bench several blocks away.
Iler was charged with robbery and also with unlawful possession of marijuana. One of the other teens, Michael Cournede, 19, also was charged with criminal possession of a weapon after police found he was carrying a box cutter.
The actor, who faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison if convicted on the top count of robbery, was released on $2,500 bail after pleading innocent at his arraignment. A hearing has been set for July 9, when Iler could learn if he has been indicted by the grand jury.
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