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Eugene

(61,592 posts)
Thu Oct 8, 2015, 04:26 PM Oct 2015

Florida man who landed gyrocopter in US Capitol grounds refuses plea bargain

Source: Associated Press

Florida man who landed gyrocopter in US Capitol grounds refuses plea bargain

Associated Press in Washington
Thursday 8 October 2015 19.52 BST

A man who landed a gyrocopter on the West Lawn of the US Capitol in Washington as part of a protest against the influence of big money in politics said on Thursday he had rejected a plea deal that would strip him of his right to vote.

Douglas Hughes said after a hearing in federal court in Washington that prosecutors had offered him a deal that would have let him plead guilty to one felony count.

But he said he rejected that deal and offered to plead guilty to misdemeanours because pleading guilty to a felony would mean he could not vote or run for office in Florida, where he lives.

The Florida constitution bars convicted felons from voting, serving on a jury or holding public office. People convicted of a felony must wait a minimum of five years after finishing their sentences and any supervised release before applying to get those rights restored.

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Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/oct/08/florida-man-gyrocopter-us-capitol-grounds-refuses-plea-bargain
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