Exuberant Mets fan sentenced to $5,000 in fines and penalties and community service
The man who ran into Citi Field June 1 after Johan Santana threw the first no-hitter in the team's history pled guilty yesterday to interfering with a professional sporting event and was sentenced to pay $5,000 in fines and penalties, perform 100 hours of community service and is banned from visiting Citi Field for one year.
In addition, The New York Mets served Rafael Diaz, 33, of 17 Eleanor Dr., Massapequa, L.I., with a trespass notice to indefinitely prevent him from visiting any of their sporting venues.
"The defendant's antics have resulted in a criminal record, the paying of thousands of dollars in fines and civil penalties, and -- perhaps the worse punishment for any true Mets fan -- precludes him from ever again visiting Citi Field," said Queens DA Richard A. Brown. Diaz has learned the hard way that there is zero tolerance for interfering with "the play of America's pastime," Brown said.
Service restarts at noon Tuesday The MTA and the LIRR unions have reached an agreement to end the 3-day transit strike. NewsdayTV's Pat Dolan reports.
Service restarts at noon Tuesday The MTA and the LIRR unions have reached an agreement to end the 3-day transit strike. NewsdayTV's Pat Dolan reports.
