Activist Arrested After Successfully Climbing Las Vegas Sphere

A self-proclaimed skyscraper climber and activist has been taken into custody after climbing the Las Vegas Sphere on Wednesday morning.

Maison DesChamps chose a super busy time in Vegas to climb the Sphere as Super Bowl week is in full effect and hundreds of thousands of people are in the area gearing up for Sunday's game. This is far from the first time DesChamps has climbed a building recklessly to bring awareness or raise money for a cause he's passionate about.

The 24-year-old Vegas resident who calls himself the "Pro-Life Spider-Man" was taken into police custody after climbing to the top of the Sphere. According to Fox5 KVVU Las Vegas, two others were also detained at the scene.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill discussed the incident during a press conference that was ironically all about Super Bowl safety.

"We know that people are going to test us. We know people are going to try things. As we sit here today, there's an individual - for a publicity stunt - climbing up to the top of the Sphere," McMahill said. "Your first responders are all over there, taking care of it. We know these things are going to happen, and we're going to deal with them as they come up and make sure we have the safest Super Bowl we've ever had."

This isn't the first time DesChamps has been arrested for the same type of stunt. He has completed many other similar stunts in the past to benefit the anti-abortion nonprofit, Let Them Live and was previously arrested for climbing the Aria in Las Vegas in August 2021 and the Accenture Tower in Chicago in October 2023.

According to KNTV, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and the Sphere announced at 11:30 a.m. PT that DesChamps was arrested.

"We are grateful to the local authorities for their support in this matter," a spokesperson told KNTV. "The individuals involved are currently in the custody of LVMPD."

DesChamps shared footage on his Instagram page to explain why he decided to climb the Sphere.

"I'm here on top of the Sphere. I guess they're gonna make me go through the top. I just wanted to say I'm doing this today to raise money for a mother named Isabel," he said in a video as he's standing on the top of the Sphere with a GoPro on his head.

"She's homeless and pregnant and needs help, guys. Go over to letthemlive.org or the link in my bio to go support this woman. Praise be to God. I will talk to you all later."

A follow-up video was shared shortly after showing the people on the sidewalk who were involved in Deschamps' climb being arrested and claiming that they were arrested "unlawfully."

Many viewers dropped into the comments to discuss the reasons they were arrested.

"Unlawfully arrested for trespassing, probably causing property damage, and you're unsure why you're being arrested? Apparently, it's for your own safety, I just don't see the confusion and how you're stating it's your 1st Amendment right to climb these structures ??," one person wrote.

Another added, "The amount of resources spent by local law enforcement trying to get Maison down seems counterintuitive. Blocking roads, etc. Do you all just focus on preventing abortion but not investing in the lives/newborns post-birth? This caused chaos on the ground here in Vegas, I hope that these planned climbs go beyond the shock value + continue after birth."

On a fundraising page on letthemlive.org, DesChamps explained the motivation for climbing the Sphere and what he's trying to accomplish.

"Maison Des Champs here, but you might know me better as the Pro-Life Spider-Man. Today, my mission transcends the adrenaline rush of scaling skyscrapers; it's about channeling our collective strength toward a cause far greater than any physical feat. In the spotlight of my climb today is Isabel, a brave soul currently navigating through life's harshest storms, pregnant and facing uncertainty with every step," he wrote.

"At 37, with a life story that's anything but straightforward, Isabel finds herself at a crossroads. Having had to make the heart-wrenching decision to adopt out three of her children, and with twins living with her ex-husband, she's now facing the prospect of bringing a new life into this world under the most challenging circumstances imaginable. Homeless, jobless, and with the fear of maternal and infant health risks looming large, she's scheduled an 11-week abortion for February 10th, believing it to be her only option amidst the chaos."

He's looking to raise a goal of $25,000 for Isabel, but so far has only raised $267.80.