A 16-year-old boy accused of holding a BB gun to a 13-year-old's head in Groton on June 1 and demanding he get $20 from his mother appeared in New London Superior Court Wednesday on multiple charges.

Tyonni Hernandez, who was a resident of the New England Adolescent Treatment Center, a group home for troubled youths, is being tried as an adult on charges of first-degree robbery, illegal use of a facsimile firearm, carrying a dangerous weapon, sixth-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery and conspiracy to commit sixth-degree larceny.

Groton City police began investigating on June 1 after charging the 13-year-old with reckless burning and criminal mischief for allegedly setting fire to a doormat at the front entry to the Groton Heights Baptist Church, according to an arrest warrant affidavit prepared by Detective Paul Ruddy.

The boy told officers that Hernandez and a 17-year-old who also resided at the treatment center earlier had pulled a gun on him with the safety off.

The 17-year-old has not yet been charged in adult court.

The boy became less cooperative as the investigation continued, saying he was a member of the Bloods street gang and would not snitch because he would be killed, according to the affidavit.

The police spoke with the boy's mother, who said her son had run into their home, scared, and said he needed $20 because someone had just held a gun to his head and was holding his friend, another juvenile, hostage until he returned. 

The mother said she gave her son the money, then saw three juveniles walking up Church Street toward Spicer Avenue. She said her son came in and told her to stop looking.

The police spoke to the juvenile, who said Hernandez lifted up his shirt, showed a black gun, and told the 13-year-old to get money or he would "kick down his door and come for him."

While the victim was inside, the juvenile said Hernandez handed the gun to the 17-year-old and told him to "take it home and stash it."

Hernandez and the 17-year-old left after the 13-year-old produced the $20, according to the affidavit.

The police went to the treatment center, where personnel searched the teens' rooms and belongings but did not find any contraband.

While police continued to investigate, they received a report on June 14 that two teens were drinking from a bottle of alcohol and handing a black gun back and forth between each other in the area of 125 Poquonnock Road.

They found Hernandez and the 17-year-old in possession of a black facsimile BB gun that was a replica of a Beretta 9 mm pistol.

The safety was turned off on the gun, which has a detachable magazine that holds BBs, according to the affidavit.

Hernandez was arrested and taken into custody by juvenile parole authorities.

During his court appearance Wednesday, public defender Bruce A. Sturman said Hernandez is now in the custody of the state Department of Children.

Sturman said he is investigating some new information he received. The case was continued to Oct. 8.

k.florin@theday.com

Twitter: @KFLORIN