Published on: April 22, 2026, at 01:31h.

Updated on: April 22, 2026, at 01:31h.

• Maison Des Champs, who refers to himself as the “Pro-Life Spiderman,” has been sentenced to 45 days in jail and required to pay restitution of $77,270.32 for damaging the Las Vegas Sphere during an unauthorized climb in 2024.
• Executives reported that Des Champs caused destruction to several custom-built LED pixels.
• His sentencing occurred just a week after a sanctioned climb was filmed featuring a climber thought to be Alex Honnold.

Maison Des Champs, the first individual to scale the exterior of the Las Vegas Sphere, was sentenced this past Monday to 45 days at the Clark County Detention Center. A free-solo climber and activist who identifies as the “pro-life Spiderman,” Des Champs ascended the 366-foot venue on February 7, 2024, without prior authorization.

Judge Danielle Pieper imposed a one-year probation period and mandated that Des Champs reimburse Sphere Entertainment $77,270.32 for the damages incurred during his climb. The LED pixels of the venue were not engineered to bear the weight of individuals scaling them.

As per the arrest documentation, a Sphere engineer observed Des Champs halfway up the venue’s exterior on February 7 and alerted the authorities. Officers accessed the top of the building from within and apprehended him upon completion of the climb.

The Limitations of Climbing

Des Champs, a resident of Las Vegas, has been previously arrested for climbing the Aria Resort & Casino in August 2021, the Salesforce Tower in San Francisco in May 2022, and the Chase Tower in Phoenix in February 2023. Charges related to the Aria incident were dismissed by Clark County prosecutors, and there’s no evidence suggesting convictions in the other cases.

After his arrest at the Sphere, Des Champs claimed to law enforcement that his legal representatives would ensure he wouldn’t face repercussions from this incident.

In court, Jay Cline, VP of event production for Sphere Entertainment, detailed the damage assessment process. He indicated that the company utilized security footage, exterior cameras, and publicly available drone footage to trace Des Champs’ climbing route. Subsequently, rope-access teams and drones examined the impacted areas. Cline disclosed that the total repair cost amounted to $107,686.32, covering the replacement of 280 LED pucks priced at $150 each, two metal LED carriers, wiring, and labor costs for the rope-access teams.

The defense team objected to the restitution amount, arguing that environmental elements such as wind, bird interactions, and other external impacts may have affected the wear and tear on the Exosphere. They also raised concerns regarding the absence of photographic evidence documenting each replaced part and pointed to the recent second ascent.

Des Champs had previously agreed to plead guilty to a gross misdemeanor, defined as an act or neglect of duty in willful disregard for safety. Three other individuals arrested alongside him—Lori Hurley, Aaron Hurley, and David Velasquez—had their charges dismissed on October 28, 2025, after prosecutors opted not to file against them.

Unusual Timing

Des Champs’ sentencing occurred just one week following a second climber—believed to be professional climber Alex Honnold, although not officially confirmed—successfully ascended the Sphere as part of a sanctioned filming session for the upcoming Sphere original film, From the Edge, slated for release later this year.

In contrast to Des Champs’ unsanctioned climb, the official April 14 ascent was carefully orchestrated, complete with a helicopter capturing footage of the climber using a camera system. Engineers ensure that specific panels are reinforced or braced, mounting hardware is tightened, and climbers are directed along structural seams instead of fragile tiles when preparation for sanctioned climbs takes place.