Mets Fan Pleads Guilty To Shining Flashlight At Atlanta Players

Tuesday, May 1st 2007, 3:01 pm

By: News On 6

NEW YORK (AP) _ A New York Mets fan has been banned from Shea Stadium for three years after pleading guilty on Tuesday to shining a high-powered flashlight at an Atlanta Braves pitcher and shortstop during a game there last month.

Frank Martinez, 40, of the Bronx, also must spend 15 days behind bars as part of his sentence for interfering with a professional sporting event.

``In a game in which the ball can travel upward of 110 mph, the defendant's actions were dangerous to both spectators and players,'' Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said in a statement.

Authorities said that on the evening of April 20, while seated behind home plate, Martinez turned the beam on Braves pitcher Tim Hudson and shortstop Edgar Renteria. The Braves were leading 7-0 at the time.

Renteria complained to umpire Paul Emmel, who called time out and alerted security. The security officers removed Martinez and found ``a small, streamline flashlight'' in his backpack, authorities said.