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