Friday, October 5, 2001
Friday, October 5, 2001 |
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Student pilot admits to buzzing fairgrounds; judge takes license By JOHN
MUNFORD
The 16-year-old student pilot accused of "buzzing" the Fayette County Kiwanis Fair last week entered the equivalent of a guilty plea in juvenile court yesterday to several related misdemeanor charges. The felony charges of making terroristic acts previously filed against the youth were dismissed, said Fayette County District Attorney Bill McBroom. The teen entered an "admission," the equivalent of a guilty plea, to two counts of reckless conduct and two counts of unlawful flight over Georgia land, all misdemeanors, McBroom said. Juvenile Court Judge A. Ronald Cook accepted the guilty plea and placed the youth on a strict curfew in addition to confiscating his student pilot's license and his Georgia driver's license, McBroom added. The teen's name is being withheld in accordance with Georgia law since he is a juvenile and not charged with a serious criminal offense. Since the youth lives in Clayton County, the case will be transferred to a juvenile court judge there for the sentencing phase of the case, McBroom said. The teen, who lives at a McDonough address in Clayton County, had been incarcerated at the Youth Detention Center in Griffin prior to Thursday's hearing. Meanwhile, the instructor flying along with him, Andrew Waits, 22, of Fayetteville, was free on $8,000 bond. Waits is charged with two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, two counts of reckless conduct and two counts of unlawful flight over Georgia land. Maj. Bruce Jordan of the Fayette County Sheriff's Department, who witnessed both fly-bys, said the second one sent many fairgoers heading for the exits. The plane narrowly missed two attractions during the stunt: the ferris wheel and the Kamikaze ride, Jordan said.
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