MatcomNews Update: Banana Boy SENTENCED!

[matcom]

<snip>

HUDSON FALLS -- A group of young men who were arrested at gunpoint while filming a scene featuring Banana Boy for their local television show were sentenced Thursday to 40 hours of community service and a $100 fine.

Christopher Phelps, 20, clad as the giant yellow superhero for the television show "Ravacon"; his brother and director Jonathan Phelps, 27; and fellow actor Lucas Van Scoy, 17, each pleaded guilty and were given the same sentences for disorderly conduct.

Washington County Sheriff's Deputy Shawn Lovelace came upon the scene last week just as Van Scoy was drawing a plastic knife on Banana Boy. Jonathan Phelps was filming the scene in a Main Street parking lot.

Lovelace pulled his gun on the young auteurs and called for backup, drawing 10 police cars to the village center and snarling traffic.

Jonathan Phelps, who caught the melee on film, said Lovelace told the men the punishment would be no worse than a traffic ticket. So they were shocked when they got to court and realized they faced up to 15 days in jail.

"Having to stand there and possibly get 15 days in jail was not something I was prepared for at all," said Jonathan Phelps. "This whole time I never thought they were going to take it so seriously."

Assistant District Attorney Brian Felton said no representative from his office was at the village court Thursday morning. He said the trio should have pleaded not guilty and negotiated if they wanted the charges dropped or reduced to an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal.

"I'm sure the judge explained their rights to them," said Felton. "They waived their rights."

None of the three had ever been in court before.

http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=430425&category=SARATOGA&BCCode=HOME&newsdate=12/16/2005

[underpants]

1. Here?

[Hugin]

2. I'll repeat once again...

Thank goodness they didn't pull this near an airport.

Who wants to die in a banana suit!

:eyes: