Mount Vernon Man Arraigned in Train Station Theft and Beating

A Mount Vernon man was arraigned Wednesday on a slew of charges for allegedly robbing a victim of his cell phone and brutally beating him with a garbage can at the White Plains Metro-North Train Station in April.

Robert Frances, of 229 S. 7th Avenue, was indicted on nine felony counts, including:

two counts of robbery in the first degree, and two counts of assault in the first degree, both class B violent felonies; one count of robbery in the second degree, a class C violent felony; two counts of assault in the second degree, a class D violent felony; one count of robbery in the third degree, a class D felony; and one count of criminal mischief in the third degree, a class E felony.

The 50-year-old faces a maximum sentence of 8 ½ to 25 years in state prison if convicted on the top counts of the indictment, according to a press release from the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office.

Frances is accused of allegedly taking a cell phone from a victim at the train station around 2:50 a.m. on April 12. He is also alleged to have repeatedly bashed the victim with a large garbage can that caused the victim to sustain a broken leg, which required three screws to be inserted into his leg, as well as stitches in his left hand.

The MTA Police responded to the incident and arrested the defendant, who will appear in court next on Aug. 2.