By STEPHANIE BARISH wpix.com WPIX-LTV

12:16 p.m. AKDT, October 20, 2010
QUEENS (WPIX)—
Former JetBlue Flight Attendant Steven Slater was apparently robbed by his boyfriend's brother, while he faced a judge Tuesday in connection with the highly-publicized temper tantrum he pulled on a grounded plane at JFK Airport over the summer.

Slater, 38, told police when he and his partner Ken Rochelle returned home to their Belle Harbor apartment, Slater's laptop, printer and microwave were missing.

Ken Rochelle told authorities his brother -- identified as Jonathan Rochelle -- was likely behind the crime. He said his brother lives just two blocks away from the couple and has a history of drug addiction.

Authorities tracked down Jonathan Rochelle on Wednesday and he went before a judge on second-degree burglary charges in Queens Supreme Court.

"The defendant is accused basically of a crime of opportunity - brazenly breaking into his brother's apartment in broad daylight when he knew nobody would be home," said Queens District Attorney Richard Brown.

Slater made national headlines in August when he quit his job on Aug. 9 by deploying the emergency chute at JFK airport and sliding down it after grabbing two beers. He was in Queens Supreme Court Tuesday morning pleading guilty to two counts of attempted criminal mischief.