A local tattoo artist at the center of a high-profile break-in at a city daycare is maintaining his innocence, even as prosecutors point to clear video evidence allegedly linking him to the crime.
Nicholas Choy, 38, a well-known tattoo artist from Robb Street, Georgetown, was remanded to prison after appearing before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on charges of breaking and entering the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) daycare and preschool on Croal Street. The incident, which occurred on May 12, involved the theft of household and school items valued at over $277,000, including a microwave, industrial fan, mattresses, a water dispenser, a JBL speaker, and a quantity of school supplies.
Choy, who was not required to plead at his initial hearing, took the unusual step of addressing the court directly to proclaim his innocence. “Your Worship, I didn’t break in nowhere. I come home from work. I’m a businessman. I work on America Street doing tattoos,†Choy told Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty. He claimed that he encountered a “junkie†passing by with a garbage bin near his home and that police arrived just as he was checking the bin, insisting he had no involvement in any burglary.
Despite his statements, the prosecution presented a different narrative. Prosecutors told the court that video footage captured Choy breaking into the YWCA premises and removing items without authorization. The footage, they said, clearly identified Choy and even showed him taking a shower in one of the rooms. Police reportedly recovered some of the stolen items in Choy’s possession, though he argued that he was only found with the garbage bin and was unaware of its contents.
Choy, a father of five, sought to appeal to the court’s compassion, emphasizing his responsibilities and character. “I got five children, Your Worship. I wouldn’t go into no school and take nothing from children. Every Friday I come downstairs and pay child support,†he said.
Magistrate McGusty, however, underscored the seriousness of the evidence, noting both the video footage and the recovery of stolen property. Choy’s request for bail was denied, and he was remanded to prison pending his next court appearance scheduled for June 6.
Court records revealed that Choy has faced previous charges, including a 2022 incident involving the theft of valuables from a parked car, though that matter was later dismissed. The current case has reignited debate over the reliability of video evidence and the presumption of innocence, as Choy’s denial stands in stark contrast to the prosecution’s claims.
The YWCA daycare break-in has left the local community shaken, with parents and staff expressing concern over the security of the facility and the loss of essential items. As the case proceeds, all eyes remain on the court to determine whether the evidence will stand up to Choy’s steadfast denials.
