A Scrooge tried to rob an aged Catholic deacon at knifepoint – demanding “I need the cash” – in a brazen Queens stick-up moments earlier than Sunday Mass this week, authorities and sources mentioned.
Miguel Bonano, 64, knocked on the door of St. Gertrude Church in Far Rockaway as congregants had been gathered inside round [9:30 a.m. just four days before Christmas, cops and law enforcement sources said.
“I want the money,” he allegedly snarled, pointing a knife at the 78-year-old deacon when he came to the door, court documents said.
But the quick-thinking senior slammed the door on the armed menace before the brute could get away with any cash, police said.
Bonano – who lives in a homeless shelter about a half-mile from the church – was still around the house of worship on Beach 38th Street near Beach Channel Drive when cops arrived, police said.
“I took out a knife and I tried to rob the guy,” he allegedly admitted to cops after being taken into custody, according to a criminal complaint.
The blade was recovered from his jacket pocket, the filing said.
Bonano was charged with attempted robbery and criminal possession of a weapon, Queens prosecutors said.
He was ordered held on $10,000 cash bail or $20,000 bond during his arraignment before Judge Lana Schlesinger in Queens Criminal Court.
Bonano has 21 prior arrests dating back nearly four decades – but hasn’t landed in cuffs since 2002 when he was nabbed for drug possession, police said.
His first arrest dates back to1987, when he allegedly tampered with a subway turnstile and was found with five tokens, four glass pipes and another person’s bank card, cops said.
He has also been arrested for robbery, trespass, grand larceny and possession of burglar’s tools, police said.
Bonano is set to appear in court next on Friday in connection to the knifepoint stick-up of the deacon, according to the DA’s office.
