Boston Area News

BOSTON (WBZ) ― The two men charged in connection with a cartoon marketing ploy that caused a scare in Boston were released from jail Thursday.

Peter Berdovsky, 27, of Arlington and Sean Stevens, 28, of Charlestown each pleaded not guilty to charges of placing a hoax device that results in panic and disorderly conduct.

The men were released after posting $2500 bail. Court documents show the men were paid just $300 each to hang the 38 devices.

They were part of a promotion for Cartoon Network TV show "Aqua Teen Hunger Force," a surreal series about a talking milkshake, a box of fries and a meatball. The network is a division of Turner Broadcasting Systems Inc.

The men were apparently working for InterferenceInc.com, which was the company hired by Cartoon Network to carry out the ad campaign.

Berdovsky and Stevens smiled and waved during their court appearance. They made a mockery of a news conference outside the courtroom by only discussing hairstyles. (Watch the news conference here) Defense attorney Michael Rich instructed both men not to discuss the case.

Stevens briefly got serious after the press appearance ended and asked for time to think.

"I think time will be a good thing and give us a chance to figure out what we actually want to say," he said.

Later Thursday night, Berdovsky issued a statement through a Boston law firm. It said he was hired last fall to place the devices at specified locations, and that he "never imagined" they would be perceived as dangerous.

"I regret that this incident has created such anguish and disruption for the residents and law enforcement officers of this city," the statement said. "I certainly never intended to do anything to frighten this community, which has welcomed and nurtured me for 10 years."

The prosecutor talked about the device found at Sullivan Station underneath Interstate 93, looking like it had C-4 explosive.

"It's clear the intent was to get attention by causing fear and unrest that there was a bomb in that location," Assistant Attorney General John Grossman said.

Rich said the description of a bomb-like device could be used for any electronic device.

"If somebody had left a VCR on the ground it would have been a device with wires, electronic components and a power source," he said.

Fans of the show mocked what they called an overreaction as about a dozen gathered outside Charlestown District Court on Thursday morning with signs saying "1-31-07 Never Forget" and "Free Peter."

"We're the laughing stock," said Tracy O'Connor, 34, of Malden.

"It's almost too easy to be a terrorist these days," said Jennifer Mason, 26. "You stick a box on a corner and you can shut down a city."

Reports of suspicious devices forced the temporary shutdowns of Interstate 93 out of the city, a key inbound roadway, a bridge between Boston and Cambridge, and a portion of the Charles River Wednesday.

A spokeswoman for Turner Broadcasting says the publicity campaign was conceived by the Adult Swim marketing department and approved by the head of Cartoon Network.

Asked if anyone might be fired because of the stunt, spokeswoman Shirley Powell said the company would "address the internal issues at some point down the road."

Powell noted that the devices promoting "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" had been up for two weeks around the country and the network had not received a single complaint. She said the campaign was never intended to create fear or public safety concerns.

The devices have been in place in 10 cities: Boston; New York; Los Angeles; Chicago; Atlanta; Seattle; Portland, Ore.; Austin, Texas; San Francisco; and Philadelphia.

Mayor Menino said the hoax cost the state and cities about $750,000. He wants Turner Broadcasting to pay for it all.

Police Commissioner Edward Davis said the rash of phone calls 9-1-1 operators received around the same time is being investigated. When asked if the calls were coordinated as part of the marketing campaign, he said: "There's no indication it came from panicked residents."

"Aqua Teen Hunger Force" is a cartoon with a cultish following that airs as part of the Adult Swim late-night block of programs for adults on the Cartoon Network. A feature length film based on the show is slated for release March 23.

The surreal series centers on a talking milkshake (Master Shake), fries (Frylock) and a meatball (Meatwad).

The cartoon also includes two trouble-making, 1980s-graphic-like characters called "mooninites," named Ignignokt and Err -- who were pictured on the suspicious devices. They are known for making the obscene hand gesture depicted on the devices.

(© 2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)