News Blog
Grand Jury Indicts Canadian Man for Stealing Plane, Entering U.S. Airspace
Leon's flight caused a national-security scare with fighter jets intercepting the plane before he finally landed it on a rural Missouri road. Leon was later arrested at a nearby grocery store and told law officials he hoped to be shot down.
Today a grand jury indicted Leon, 31, on federal charges of interstate transportation of a stolen aircraft, importation of a stolen aircraft, and illegal entry into the United States from Canada.
He appeared this morning in federal court in St. Louis for a hearing on his pending motion for examination to determine mental competency to stand trial. Through counsel, he conceded that he is competent to stand trial, and was ordered detained pending further proceedings.
In the event of conviction, interstate transportation of a stolen aircraft carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison, importation of a stolen aircraft carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison, and illegally entering the United States carries a penalty of six months in prison.
Riverfront Times works for you, and your support is essential.
Our small but mighty local team works tirelessly to bring you high-quality, uncensored news and cultural coverage of St. Louis and beyond.
Unlike many newspapers, ours is free – and we'd like to keep it that way, because we believe, now more than ever, everyone deserves access to accurate, independent coverage of their community.
Whether it's a one-time acknowledgement of this article or an ongoing pledge, your support helps keep St. Louis' true free press free.