Roofers who climbed a skyscraper in the US face up to 20 years in prison (3 photos + 1 video)
The couple has been charged with three criminal offenses, as well as several administrative offenses. 
Two high-profile roofers who climbed the spire of the 443-meter Empire State Building in New York City earlier this month could face up to 20 years in prison. The Manhattan District Attorney's Office recently unsealed charges against the extreme sports enthusiasts.
The prosecutor's office reported that the roofers are suspects in three Class D felony counts: first-degree reckless endangerment, second-degree criminal damage to property, and third-degree burglary. The maximum penalty for each charge is up to seven years in prison.
Furthermore, the prosecutor's office clarified that the roofers damaged $1,500 worth of property while breaking into the building and also violated a rooftop trespassing ban. They could face up to a year in prison for both administrative charges.
As reported by the media, in the event of a guilty verdict, the court has the right to cumulatively sentence the roofers, or may choose a more lenient form of punishment—sentencing them to prison for the longest term under one of the charges.
At the preliminary hearing on July 2, the suspects pleaded not guilty, and their lawyer called the charges excessive. Nevertheless, the offenders were released without bail. However, everything could change after the next hearing, which will take place on August 24.
Interestingly, the sweet couple turned out to be from Moscow. It's also curious that roofers Angelina Nicolaou and Ivan Birkus (Kuznetsov) are better known in the United States than in their home country, primarily due to the documentary about them produced by Netflix ("Skywalkers: The Story of a Couple").
We'll add that the roofers climbed the spire of the Empire State Building in New York City to demonstrate a beautiful gesture on Instagram. From a bird's eye view, Ivan Birkus proposed to his companion, placing a ring on her finger. The couple also unfurled a banner from the skyscraper's spire with the pacifist slogan: "When the power of love conquers the love of power, peace will know peace."
