Mets fan charged of trying to distract Atlanta players during game
NEW YORK (AP) -- A 40-year-old man arrested at Shea Stadium on Friday night is accused of trying to distract an Atlanta Braves pitcher and shortstop with a high-powered flashlight.
Frank Martinez was charged with interference with a professional sporting event and second-degree reckless endangerment, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said Saturday.
Authorities said Martinez flashed the powerful light at the players in the bottom of the eighth inning from his seat behind home plate. He was quickly ejected from the game.
"The defendant's alleged actions recklessly endangered the lives of players and spectators and caused a temporary delay to the game," Brown said.
The hullabaloo began at about 10:15 p.m. as the Braves were leading the Mets 7-0. Tim Hudson was on the mound facing Mets pinch-hitter Endy Chavez when, investigators said, Martinez turned the beam on the Braves pitcher and shortstop Edgar Renteria.
Renteria complained to umpire Paul Emmel, who then called time out and alerted security. The security officers removed Martinez and found a "a small, streamline flashlight" in his backpack, Brown said.
Martinez was still jailed Saturday, and unavailable for comment. He was scheduled to remain behind bars until at least the evening, when he had an arraignment scheduled in Queens Criminal Court. Queens prosecutors said Martinez did not have a lawyer yet. If convicted, he faces up to a year in jail and a $5,000 fine.
A law making it expressly illegal to interfere with a professional sporting event was passed by the city in 2003 following a disruptive incident involving fashion designer Calvin Klein.
Klein stepped onto the basketball court at Madison Square Garden in March 2003 to speak with player Latrell Sprewell while a Knicks game was in progress.
As a fan, you should do everything possible aside from physically hindering a player to help your team. A flashlight is a bit much, but why is this guy still in jail? foolishness.
That's the max. If Renteria had been hit in the head by a line drive as a result of not being able to see due to his flashlight then the one year, or more, is justified.
He's not getting any jail time. He is banned from Shea for the rest of the season and has to pay a fine.
Maine has a good swing for a pitcher but on anything that moves, he has no chance. And if it's a fastball, it has to be up in the zone. Basically, the pitcher has to hit his bat. - Mike Pelfrey
Eh, it's pretty irresponsible and it makes us all look bad but it's still kinda funny. I mean, where do these people come up with this stuff? And aren't those tickets pretty expensive? Why would you waste them?
Amazinz wrote:He's not getting any jail time. He is banned from Shea for the rest of the season and has to pay a fine.
Are you the judge
That is the "maximum penalty" for what he's being charged for. Generally the judge will dole out a sentence that fits the crime. A ban from Shea and a fine seems appropriate.
Those maximum sentences are for extreme cases.
If you're a battery, you're either working or you're dead....
NEW YORK -- A New York Mets fan has been banned from Shea Stadium for three years after pleading guilty on Tuesday to shining a high-powered flashlight at a pair of Atlanta Braves players last month.
Frank Martinez, 40, of the Bronx, also must spend 15 days in jail as part of his sentence for interfering with a professional sporting event.
"In a game in which the ball can travel upward of 110 mph, the defendant's actions were dangerous to both spectators and players," Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said in a statement.
Authorities said that on April 20, while seated behind home plate, Martinez turned the beam on Braves pitcher Tim Hudson and shortstop Edgar Renteria. The Braves were leading 7-0 at the time.
Renteria complained to umpire Paul Emmel, who called time and alerted security. The security officers removed Martinez and found "a small, streamline flashlight" in his backpack, authorities said.
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by ChipperJonesFanatic » Sat Apr 21, 2007 4:51 pm 
