Watch: YouTube Exploration of Derelict College Garners Praise, Trespass Charge

A Rhode Island resident who documents adventures on YourTube faces a trespass charge after an expedition into the decayed and dangerous grandeur of Bennett College in Millbrook, NY.

On February 12, 2015, New York State Police from the Poughkeepsie barracks charged 21-year-old Joshua T. Yozura with Criminal Trespass 3rd Degree, a Class B Misdemeanor.

The video was published on Yozura’s YouTube channel, on Nov 26. 2014.

“We drove 3 hours to get to NY to explore this place its beautiful but VERY dangerous as we almost got really hurt or worse,” he wrote about the video.

Bennett College was founded in Irvington in 1890, and moved up the Hudson River to Millbrook in 1907, taking over the property on which stood Halcyon Hall, built in 1893 as a luxury hotel. A girls’ school, it went bankrupt in 1978.

“Well you certainly pushed the limits of abandoned exploration by visiting this place so late in its state of deterioration,” one person commented on the video. ”I can’t imagine too many more opportunities to wander through here after seeing your footage, it’s just too dangerous! I will consider your video the last great record of this magnificent buildings existence. I would have to imagine that for anyone viewing this who attended school here will find this priceless, however depressing it may be for them to see it in this state.! I’m sure they would greatly appreciate the incredible risks you and your team took documenting a place that holds memories of the best years of their lives. You did an awesome job and you showed great respect for the building and the history of Bennett!”

“It is amazing that’s why I do what I do. I love just goin into places and being like wow a lot of stuff has once happen here and yah,” he wrote back to another admirer.

State police said the head of Bennett College Security saw the incident posted on Youtube and made a complaint.

Yozura was issued an appearance ticket ordering him to appear before the Town of Washington Court Feb. 24.

“Members of the public are advised not to trespass on Bennett College property,” state police said. “ The buildings are privately owned and all trespassers will be arrested. Over time, the condition of the buildings has severely deteriorated making the property extremely unsafe to enter. Not only is it hazardous for the trespassers themselves, it is also dangerous for responding law enforcement officers or first responders.”