Empire State Building Climbers Face Jail, Deportation Risk After Misdemeanor Plea Offer Dispute
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Nov 13
Empire State Building Climbers Face Jail, Deportation Risk After Misdemeanor Plea Offer Dispute
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Nov 13
Summary
Angela Nikolau, 33, and Ivan Kuznetsov, 32, returned to a New York court Thursday still facing felony and misdemeanor charges over their July climb after their lawyer said a plea deal collapsed.
A defense attorney said prosecutors had offered misdemeanor pleas that would avoid “catastrophic immigration consequences,” but that option was removed the night before the hearing.
Manhattan prosecutors disputed that account, saying in a statement that no offer had been withdrawn and that the charges remain unchanged.
Kuznetsov told reporters the pair did not damage property or intend to endanger anyone, while their lawyer warned deportation to Russia could send him to fight in Ukraine and expose Nikolau to punishment for artistic expression.