Times Square Spider-Man Found Guilty Of Harassment
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Instead of fighting crime, Spider-Man has been found guilty of breaking the law.
As WCBS 880's Irene Cornell reported, Phillip Williams, who dresses up as the superhero, was convicted Wednesday of harassing a woman in a Times Square spat. Williams was found guilty after a brief bench trial in Manhattan Criminal Court -- although he was acquitted of a more serious charge of attempted assault.
Williams, 36, had been charged with punching a mother of two in the face after she refused to tip him for posing for a photograph with her children in February 2013.
Times Square Spider-Man Found Guilty Of Harassment
The attorney for the Spider-Man character argued that the woman started the fight by throwing a block of ice at Williams' head after he called her names. Another Times Square character, Batman, had to intervene in the scuffle.
The woman's two children -- a 7-year-old boy celebrating his birthday and a 5-year-old girl -- were standing nearby watching the fight.
That fact seemed to bother the judge the most. He told Williams: "You should know better. I hope you've learned your lesson."
Harassment is a noncriminal violation. Williams has to pay a $250 fine or serve seven days in jail.
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