NEW YORK (AP) — A New York Mets fan who ran onto Citi Field following Johan Santana’s no-hitter has pleaded guilty to interfering with a professional sporting event.
Prosecutors said Thursday a judge ordered 32-year-old Rafael Diaz of Massapequa to pay $4,000 in civil penalties to the Mets and $1,000 to the city. He also must perform 100 hours of community service and cannot visit Citi Field for year, although the Mets have already banned him for life.
If he doesn’t complete the conditions by Dec. 14, he can be sentenced to up to a year in jail.
Santana threw the Mets’ first no-hitter June 1. Following the game, prosecutors say Diaz ran onto pitcher’s mound where he mingled with several celebrating players before being apprehended.
