Sharpton Pleads Not Guilty to Disorderly Conduct Charge
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
The Reverend Al Sharpton has pleaded not guilty to disorderly conduct for protests he led over the acquittals of three New York City police officers in the fatal shooting of an unarmed man on his wedding day.
The May demonstrations clogged intersections and snarled traffic. More than 200 people were arrested, including Reverend Sharpton and Nicole Paultre Bell, the fiancee of slain groom Sean Bell. Two other men were injured in the 2006 shooting.
Beside Reverend Sharpton, Ms. Paultre Bell, her mother, and cousin also appeared in court today. Charges will be dropped against them in six months as long as they stay out of trouble.
Since Sharpton had a previous arrest record, he was offered time served if he pleaded guilty to the charge, but he chose not to take it and must appear in court on July 28.
