The vagrant who allegedly threatened to open fire on homeless-outreach workers in Penn Station was ordered held on $5,000 bail at his Friday arraignment as a Manhattan judge determined he was a flight risk.
Judge Jonathan Svetkey made the bail ruling after noting Eugene Watts failed to return to court on 16 prior occasions.
Watts was slapped with an order of protection after threatening to shoot workers at the Bowery Residents Committee inside the transit hub last Saturday.
He was accused of violating that order by showing up to the office Thursday, and was arrested by Amtrak Police for criminal contempt.
At his arraignment, a court-appointed defense attorney argued Watts has mental and substance abuse issues. He was screened and determined to be eligible for supervised release.
The prosecutor highlighted his lengthy rap sheet, arguing he has five prior felony arrests and more than 50 misdemeanor busts.
“Based on his history of appearances, … I find that he is a risk of flight unless he has financial stability,” the judge said, imposing bail after the defense attorney noted Watts was unemployed.
The new bail reform legislation restricts bail for nearly all misdemeanors—including Watts’ charge of criminal contempt—but a judge can hold a defendant on bail if they’re considered a flight risk, and might dodge future court dates.
His arrest came after The Post revealed the taxpayer-funded group’s satellite office had been closed for days because Watts allegedly told workers he’d “come back with a gun and shoot.”
By Friday, the group’s office had reopened as Watts was in custody.