500-pound man's arraignment held outside

RIVERHEAD, N.Y., May 2 (UPI) -- A Suffolk County, N.Y., judge said an arraignment was held in the courthouse parking lot due to the overweight defendant's inability to enter the building.

Bernard Musumeci, 44, who weighs in at about 500 pounds, sat in the passenger seat of his gray Ford F-350 truck with the window down while state Supreme Court Justice Robert Doyle reviewed the charges against him, New York Newsday reported Friday.

"The record should reflect that this arraignment is taking place in the parking lot of the courthouse," Doyle said, "because of the severe weight problem this defendant has."

Musumeci's attorney had previously informed Doyle that his client would not be able to enter the building and ride an elevator to the third-floor courtroom.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to second-degree trademark counterfeiting and criminal simulation after he was accused of using his business, Oakdale Music, to sell counterfeit Gibson Les Paul guitars on eBay.

If convicted, he could face 3 to 4 years imprisonment on each charge.