Boston (AP/WBZ Newsroom) -- Two men who authorities placed electronic advertising devices around Boston on Wednesday in a publicity stunt for a cable tv network each were freed Thursday on $2,500 cash bond after their arraignments.
Peter Berdovsky, 27 and Sean Stevens, 28, each pleaded not guilty to placing a hoax device and disorderly conduct. They smiled and waved as they greeted people in court.
Outside, they met reporters and television cameras with a nonsensical discussion of hair styles in the 1970s.
Berdovsky said "What we really want to talk about today -- it's kind of important to some people -- it's haircuts of the 1970s."
Prosecutors said they found 38 blinking electronic signs promoting a show on Cartoon Network on high-profile spots around the city. The 1-foot tall signs resembled a circuit board, with protuding wires and batteries. Most depicted a boxy cartoon character giving passerby the finger.
Assistant Attorney General John Grossman said one of the devices, found at Sullivan Station beneath Interstate 93, looked like a bomb. Outside the courthouse, Michael Rich, lawyer for both men, said the description of a bomb-like device could be used for any electronic device.
About a dozen fans gathered outside Charlestown District Court on Thursday Morning, with signs saying "1-31-07 Never Forget" and "Free Peter."
"It's almost too easy to be a terrorist these days," said 26-year-old Jennifer Mason. "You stick a box onb a corner and you can shut down a city."
Boston mayor Tom Menino vowed to hold Turner Broadcasting Systems, Inc. accountable for what he calls "corporate greed" that he said led to at least $750,000 in police costs.
Phil Kent, chairman of Turner, a divicsion of Time Warner Inc., said, "We apologize to the citizens of Boston that part of a marketing campaign was mistaken for a public danger." Kent said the company that placed the signs, Interference Inc., was ordered to immediately remove them.
The devices were also placed in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Portland, Ore., and Austin, Texas.
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