A Manhattan judge responsible for freeing career criminal Johnson Earl after he allegedly beat an elderly man declined to answer questions about her ruling when he visited The Post on Saturday.
“No, you can’t come to my house,” an irritated Beverly Tatham said in response to a reporter who identified herself, before quickly closing the door of her Brownsville home.
The judge was likely in no mood to defend how she granted 44-year-old Earl supervised release — despite a second-degree assault charge for allegedly punching an 83-year-old man on a Lower Manhattan train. month, police said.
The horrific attack occurred on Dec. 20 after the senior accidentally tripped over Earl’s foot as a southbound No. 5 train approached the Fulton Street station, police said.
Earl, enraged, apparently punched the older man in the face, leading to a fight that ended with the perpetrator placing the victim in a chokehold before continuing to beat him, an assistant district attorney said during Earl’s arraignment on January 2.
The attack left the man with lacerations to his face and head, and police said he later went to Kings County Hospital Center for treatment.
Despite pleas from the Manhattan district attorney’s office to set Earl’s bail at $75,000 cash or $100,000 bond — and a lengthy criminal record that includes thirteen prior arrests — Tatham opted to release him back onto the streets.
In July, Earl was arrested for repeatedly punching a security guard at a 99 Cent store in The Bronx, according to the indictment, which alleged he seethed, “Why don’t you take care of me?” during the battle.
He was ordered to stay away from the victim, but the case was later postponed pending dismissal, Bronx prosecutors said.
According to police sources, the career criminal has been arrested at least four times for assault dating back to 1999.
He has also been arrested in the past for criminal possession of a gun and marijuana possession, the sources said.
Earl is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 27, records show.
