Teen posed as reporter at Shea Stadium
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Bill Jempty | Tuesday, August 22, 2006 |
From AP-
NEW YORK – Ryan Leli loves the Mets. The Suffolk County teenager loved the Mets so much that authorities say he posed as a reporter to get into Shea Stadium and talk with players.
Police arrested the 18-year-old Leli Friday night at Shea just before the start of the New York Mets- Colorado Rockies game and charged him with impersonating a journalist, the Queens District Attorney announced Saturday.
Prosecutors say Leli told New York Mets management that he worked for NBC Universal and showed a fake NBC employee identification card so he could get press credentials.
Leli first used the press pass to attend an Aug. 10 game between the Mets and the San Diego Padres. Authorities said Leli used the pass to approach and chat with players including Mike Piazza before and after that game.
Leli used the fake NBC identification again Friday to get another press pass for the Mets-Rockies game.
Mets management apparently became suspicious and contacted authorities.
Leli was also charged with criminal possession of a forged instrument, falsifying business records, larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, criminal impersonation and criminal trespass.
He was arraigned Saturday in Queens Criminal Court and released on his own recognizance.
Leli was scheduled to return to court on Sept. 27. He faces up to seven years in prison if he’s convicted.
Seven years would seem a little extreme for what Leli did. How much did this guy get for parachuting into Shea Stadium in 1986? A plane flying in restricted airspace was far more serious than what Leli did.
Oh and besides, I can name at least one long-time sportswriter who has been impersonating a reporter for years.
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“criminal possession of a forged instrument, falsifying business records, larceny, criminal possession of stolen property, criminal impersonation and criminal trespass.”
I could almost see all of these, though I suspect that the falsifying of business records was not aimed at this kind of event. The criminal charges were all best modified by the idea that the Mets gave them to him without checking first.
But I hod no idea that New York has a law against impersonating a journalist. The fact that Rather was not arrested years ago speaks volumes about the lax legal enforcement in the city.
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