Plea deal near in Boston "Hunger Force" bomb scare

BOSTON — The case against two men charged in a botched advertising scheme that created a bomb scare in the Boston area could be resolved by the end of the month, a prosecutor said today.

Peter Berdovsky, 27, and Sean Stevens, 28, who have pleaded not guilty to placing a hoax device and disorderly conduct, appeared in court today but the hearing was continued to March 30.

"We've been in lengthy conversations. We hope to resolve the matter before then," Assistant Attorney General John Grossman said. He did not release details.

None of the attorneys involved commented outside court. The two defendants, who had giggled through their first court appearance, were quiet today.

The ad scheme involved blinking signs, basically circuit boards with battery-powered lights that created images of a cartoon character making an obscene gesture.

The signs were designed to promote the Cartoon Network show "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" as part of an advertising campaign by Turner Broadcasting Systems, a division of Time Warner Inc.

But when the first sign was spotted Jan. 31 under an Interstate 93 bridge, police, unaware of the ad campaign, called in the bomb squad.

Bridges and roadways were shut down as more signs turned up, three dozen in all.

The devices were placed in a number of other metropolitan areas, including Seattle, but caused no stir except in Boston.

Turner Broadcasting and the advertising agency that carried out the campaign, Interference Inc., have since agreed to pay $2 million to cover the city's costs and for restitution. The head of the Cartoon Network resigned nine days after the stunt.