Two students have been charged with felony trespassing for allegedly climbing on top of a construction site to watch the November 9 riots in State College. The students now join a group of more than 40 others that were arrested following the riots, which began after the Penn State Board of Trustees announced its decision to fire longtime football coach Joe Paterno.

According to police reports, the two students were arrested and charged with felony trespassing after Penn State police found them at the top of a construction site near the Henderson Building. The site was reportedly marked with signs stating that only "authorized personnel" were allowed on the site. With no walls, the structure had little to prevent the students from falling to the ground.

No one was injured in the incident, but prosecutors reportedly still decided to charge the students with felony trespassing. They will return to court later this month for preliminary hearing.

The students were reportedly attempting to get a better view of the riots that began in response to the firing of Joe Paterno in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky sex crimes scandal. The rioters were comprised mostly of students who were angry at the trustees for making that decision. When all was said and done, approximately 45 people were arrested for various offenses such as felony riot, misdemeanor disorderly conduct or summary public drunkenness.

State College Police Chief Tom King recently told the Patriot-News that the riot could most likely have been avoided or at least mitigated if the trustees had timed the announcement of Paterno's firing, which was made at 10 p.m., differently. "I've expressed my displeasure that the timing...without us having advanced warning, presented a challenge," he said.

Source: Centre Daily Times, "Students face felony for trespassing during riot," Jan. 11, 2012

Source: The Patriot-News, "Riot at Penn State is most costly, destructive in 15 years, State College police chief says," Dec. 21, 2011