Empire State Climbers Face 7 Years, Weigh Plea
Empire State Climbers Face 7 Years, Weigh Plea
The News
The couple who climbed the Empire State Building's spire on July 1 were back in Manhattan Criminal Court on Monday, where prosecutors said they are in "active plea discussions" with the pair.
Angela Nikolau, 33, and her climbing partner, 32, face multiple felony counts and up to seven years in prison if convicted on the current charges.
Outside the courthouse, the two kissed for cameras while wearing matching handcuff bracelets.
The Charges
The counts against the couple include burglary, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, criminal tampering, criminal trespass, possession of burglar's tools, disorderly conduct, and violation of local law.
The maximum exposure on the current charges is seven years in prison.
Timeline
The pair climb the Empire State Building's spire in a stunt that went viral, capped by a marriage proposal at the top. Prosecutors say the building's broadcast antenna had to be powered down during the climb, and that the stunt caused about $2,000 in damage.
The two appear before Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Beverly Tatham. Prosecutors tell the court plea talks are underway. A grand jury has not yet acted on the case. Afterward, the couple make out on the courthouse steps in front of news cameras.
The next scheduled court date.
Reactions
The defense argues the charges are excessive for what it calls a peaceful act. Prosecutors are pursuing multiple felonies.
The tabloid coverage has focused on the couple's public displays outside court. The New York Post described the pair as "high on love" after the plea talks were revealed; TMZ noted they had gone from a proposal on top of the skyscraper to kissing on the courthouse steps.
What's Next
Nikolau and her co-defendant return to court on September 29. No plea terms have been disclosed publicly, and it is not clear whether the grand jury will act before that date.
More
A note on names: the outlets covering the case do not agree on the man's surname. The National Desk identifies him as Ivan Kuznetsov, 32, while the New York Post and Daily Mail call him Ivan Beerkus, 32. The Frank is not resolving the discrepancy until the court record is clear.
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