Morris Plains judge fines UFO hoaxsters and sentences them to park-rec service

[Ian David]

Morris Plains judge fines UFO hoaxsters and sentences them to park-rec service
by George!
Tuesday April 07, 2009, 5:51 PM

UFO hoaxsters Joe Rudy and Chris Russo were fined $250 apiece and each sentenced to perform 50 hours of community service with the Hanover recreation department by Morris Plains Municipal Judge Michael Carlucci today.

The judge said he would have been more lenient if the men were 17. But they are in their late 20s, and the regional alarm over their balloon-flares--meant to poke fun at UFO believers--tied up area 911 lines, he said.

Last week, Morris County Prosecutor Robert Bianchi noted potential danger to aviation around Morristown Airport. Kelly Lavery of the Prosecutor's Office signed off on this afternoon's deal, in which Joe, of Chester, and Chris, of Morris Plains, each agreed to plea guilty to creating a disturbance.

The hoaxsters, who posted videos of their nighttime escapades online, along with an elaborate explanation of their mission, declined to comment after the brief hearing.

More:
http://www.nj.com/morristown/index.ssf/2009/04/morris_plains_judge_fines_ufo_1.html