WASHINGTON (AP) - A man who flew a gyrocopter through some of America's most restricted airspace before landing outside the U.S. Capitol says he's rejected a plea deal in the case that would involve several years in prison.
Douglas Hughes spoke after a status hearing in federal court in Washington. He declined to give specifics of ongoing negotiations but said if prosecutors continue to insist on "significant hard jail time" that his case will go to trial.
Hughes says spending several years in prison doesn't seem fair because nobody was hurt and there was no property damage during his April 15 flight in the bare-bones aircraft. He says his flight was an act of civil disobedience intended to call attention to the influence of big money in politics.
The next hearing is scheduled for July 22 at 11 a.m.
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