Tony Soprano Jr. Actor Arrested

July 5, 2001 -- It might seem like an episode of The Sopranos.

But 16-year-old Robert Iler, who plays Tony Soprano's troubled son Anthony "A.J." Soprano Jr., was arrested early Wednesday in New York and charged with two counts of second-degree robbery and one count of marijuana possession. He pleaded not guilty at an arraignment Wednesday evening and was released on $2,500 bail.

Sources told ABCNEWS.com that Iler told police he was not involved in the robbery. The sources said they did not know what, if anything, he said about the drug charge.

In a statement released today, Iler denied the robbery charge and apologized to his family and friends.

"I feel terribly embarrassed," Iler said. "I never, ever would or did rob anybody in my life. I know that the events of the past two days have been extremelydifficult for my family and friends, and for that I am deeplysorry."

If convicted of the robbery charges, Iler would face up to 15 years in prison.

Iler's attorney disputes the allegations against his young client.

"My client didn't threaten anybody, my client didn't hearanybody threaten anybody, my client didn't hear anyone ask formoney," said attorney Steven Mintz. "Robert didn't hear anybody or see anybodyreceive money. And he only learned what had happened much laterwhen he was picked up."

$40, Marijuana — and a World of Trouble

Police said Iler and three others confronted two other teenagers after midnight in a park on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, and demanded money. Police said the suspects claimed to have a weapon, but did not produce one. The teens allegedly gave Iler and his companions $40, sources said.

The alleged victims then reported the incident to police and identified Iler and his companions, Alban Selimaj, 16, Michael Cournede, 19, and a 15-year-old male, police said. Police said they found a pipe and a small amount of marijuana on Iler and a box cutter on Cournede.

All four were charged with robbery, and Cournede faces a criminal weapons possession charge for the box cutter. The 15-year-old, whose name was being withheld because of his age, was released to his parents.

Life Imitating Art?

Iler got his start in commercials at the age of 6. Known mostly for his role as Tony Soprono's son on HBO's The Sopranos, Iler has also appeared in Oz, another hit show on the cable network.

The young actor, who plays a troubled teenager who causes problems for his Mafia family with his misbehavior on the popular series, joked about his arrest with the other suspects, according to police sources, The Associated Press reported.

In one episode, the character was caught cheating on a mathematics test, and in another he broke into his school and vandalized a trophy case and threw furniture into the pool.

One of Iler's neighbors in Manhattan said the teenager doesn't seem like the character he plays on television.

"He's a well-behaved kid so hopefully he's just in the wrong place at the wrong time and things'll work out right for him," Margie Daly said.

ABC station WABC in New York contributed to this report.