Watch CBS News

NJ Teen Pleads Guilty In 1 World Trade Center Climb

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A teenager who made a surreptitious climb to the top of the 1 World Trade Center tower has pleaded guilty in an escapade that fanned concerns about security at the nation's tallest building.

Justin Casquejo admitted Wednesday he broke a New York City misdemeanor law against scaling tall buildings without permission. He's expecting a sentence of 23 days of community service.

His lawyer has declined to comment.

Casquejo said he was sorry for the incident in a March 21 tweet.

"I seriously apologize to anyone who may have been insulted or felt disrespected by my actions. It was not my intention to do so," Casquejo wrote.

The 16-year-old climbing enthusiast from Weehawken, New Jersey, was arrested in March on his way down the unfinished skyscraper at the heart of the security-conscious site.

Court papers say he slipped through a small gap in a construction fence and then used a ladder, scaffolding, elevators and stairs to scale the 1,776-foot-tall tower early on March 16. He spent about an hour taking pictures, police said.

In a separate case, a group of men are facing charges after authorities say they parachuted from the building in September. Their lawyer has been trying to negotiate a plea deal that won't result in a felony conviction, but prosecutors have been reluctant to strike such a deal.

The trade center's owner has made security changes.

You May Also Be Interested In These Stories

(TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.