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Teen Who Climbed To Top Of 1WTC Pleads Guilty


July 31, 2014 | Marina Galperina

The 16-year-old urban explorer who ascended to the top of the unfinished 1 World Trade Center in March, has plead guilty, the AP reports. Justin Casquejo admitted to breaking NY’s misdemeanor law against unauthorized scaling of tall buildings. He is going to be sentenced in September and is expected to get 23 days of community service.

The teenager from Weehawken, NJ spent hours staking out the site, weaseled through a hole in the construction fence, climbed a ladder and some scaffolding, rode the elevator to the 88th floor (which an elevator operator allowed him to do without ID), and then took the stairs to the 104th floor, sneaking past a sleeping guard. He was caught on his way down.

Port Authority has vowed to improve their security, which already calls for a “$40 million system of barriers and checkpoints around the lower Manhattan site.”

The daredevils who base jumped off 1WTC a week before Casquejo’s climb have plead not guilty to a variety charges. (Photo: Justin Casquejo)