A Dayton, Ohio, man surrendered to law enforcement on Wednesday following an incident at a New York Liberty basketball game, where he is accused of throwing a green sex toy that struck a 12-year-old girl. Charles Burgess, 32, faces ten criminal charges, including felony assault with a weapon, obscenity, and interference with a sporting event.
Burgess, who owns an auto body shop and has six children, was arraigned shortly after his arrest. His attorney indicated that prosecutors are investigating a wider trend involving similar incidents at women’s basketball games. Reports suggest a marketing initiative linked to a new cryptocurrency may be driving people to throw these toys at players during WNBA games.
Paul D’Emilia, Burgess’s lawyer, noted that the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office has expressed interest in speaking with the defense about others potentially involved in this disturbing behavior. D’Emilia has highlighted a rapid increase in such incidents at venues across the country, indicating a collaborative effort by authorities to address the issue.
The incident occurred on August 5, when Burgess allegedly threw the toy onto the court, striking the young girl in the leg. While she experienced pain, she did not require hospitalization. After the event, Burgess reportedly fled on foot.
Following his voluntary return to Brooklyn, a judge released Burgess, and he is scheduled to appear in court again in December. His attorney stated that Burgess intends to contest the charges vigorously, asserting that video evidence exists which negates the claims that anyone was actually struck by the object thrown.
As the investigation unfolds, the Brooklyn DA has withheld additional commentary on the case, which has drawn attention to the broader implications of such actions at public sporting events. Authorities are determined to explore the motivations behind these incidents and to discourage similar behavior in the future.
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