The 16-year-old teenager who sneaked past guards to the top of 1 World Trade Center — leading to an embarrassing situation for security — was sent for an assessment into a youth offenders program by Midtown Court Judge Felician Mennin.
The boy, Justin Casquejo, was ordered Wednesday to return to court for further instruction on April 30, The Associated Press reported.
He had been originally charged with criminal trespass. But prosecutors then added an addition charge for base jumping for his alleged climb up the nation’s tallest building.
Justin’s sneaky mid-March success played out at length in the media. He sneaked through a hole in the fence that winds around the skyscraper about 4 a.m., then boarded an elevator and rode to the spire. He then scaled a ladder to get to the scaffolding to the sixth floor, court documents said. And he then used the ladder again to get to the antenna.
Authorities also alleged that Justin dressed up like a construction worker and snapped photographs while on top of the center, AP reported.
He was only stopped by security on his way down — about two hours later. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey owns the trade center site and is reportedly looking into its security system in the wake of Justin’s climb.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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