Student pilot admits to buzzing fairgrounds; judge takes license

News
Share this Post

Student pilot admits to buzzing fairgrounds; judge takes license

News
Share this Post

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.

Back

to News Home Page |

Stay Up-to-Date on What’s Fun and Important in Fayette

Newsletter

Latest Comments

VIEW ALL
Newsletter
Scroll to Top