High school kids threatened by D.A. with criminal record & fine for playing SOCCER

Syracuse NY High School

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — After a viewer sent CNYCentral a video of a group of people playing soccer at Henninger High School in Syracuse, Onondaga County District Attorney, William Fitzpatrick, said there are punishments that can come if people don't follow the guidelines.

"If you have a gathering of more than 10 people, you're playing a sporting event or having a tailgate party or whatever, you’re breaking the law," he said.

He said the first encounter with a group will be a warning because they want to give people a second chance.

"If you’re going to be flagrant about it and you’re going to be just selfish about it, quite frankly you’re going to be prosecuted," DA Fitzpatrick said.

He said the second encounter could included a ticket worth at least $1,000 as well as a possible criminal record.

In regards to the video sent, DA Fitzpatrick said the police responded to the gathering.

"Enforcement told the people to disperse. If we see the same kids and, they were mostly young people, they think they’re in vulnerable, if we see them back out there doing it again they’re going to start after issuing tickets," he said.

Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon said it is police department and park rangers responsibility to break up these gatherings.

“We’ve given the tools to help enforce these policies, if they chose not to enforce them, that’s on them," he said.

The district attorney said they have not issued any tickets so far, but departments are willing to do so.

The Syracuse Police Department responded to a total of 21 calls of gatherings from Friday to Sunday, issuing no tickets.

"We’re not looking to arrest people," DA Fitzpatrick said.

https://cnycentral.com/news/local/da-fines-criminal-record-possible-for-not-following-social-distancing-guidelines

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