Throng of Occupy protesters appear in NY courts

NEW YORK — New York courtrooms hundreds of miles apart have been busy with the aftermath of arrests from Occupy Wall Street-related protests.

Nearly 200 people arrested during demonstrations appeared Wednesday to answer charges stemming from an October march on the Brooklyn Bridge and a demonstration in a Rochester park.

Some 161 people were arraigned in a Manhattan court. Nearly 60 percent of them took a judge's offer to get their cases dismissed if they avoid rearrest for six months. The remainder are headed toward trial.

Another 15 people didn't show up for court. Two more had their cases postponed to Thursday.

In Rochester, 28 Occupy supporters asked a court to dismiss charges they violated a nighttime curfew at a park. A judge didn't immediately decide. Another hearing is set for Jan. 12.