Tourist who took Brooklyn Bridge selfie appears in court, plans to fight charges

NEW YORK (WABC) -- When a tourist snapped an illegal selfie on the Brooklyn Bridge, little did he know he was actually prepping for his mug shot.

David Karnauch was arrested Monday in his home state of Tennessee on a reckless endangerment charge.

The 21-year-old was extradited Thursday back to New York City, where he arraigned in criminal court in Downtown Brooklyn.

He was released on his own recognizance.

Attorney Adam Axel said Karnauch will back for his next court date in September and plans to fight the charges.

"The prosecution requested a ridiculous amount of bail on a very straightforward misdemeanor case," Axel said. "They requested $25,000, which is just absolutely ridiculous for a misdemeanor. I think the judge made the right decision and released him on his own recognizance. And he will come back and fight the case."

Karnauch is accused of climbing a beam back in June, taking the photo and getting down before officers spotted him.

"Foolishly scaling bridges and other structures is not only a security breach, but also poses dangers to the climber and the public," District Attorney Ken Thompson said. "We take these incidents seriously and will continue to vigorously prosecute them. Snapping a photo is not worth the safety risk and the consequences of a criminal case."

The selfie incident made national headlines. New York Police say Karnauch acted in an "irresponsible" and "illegal" manner.