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Drunken pilot gets one year, is eligible for release



Associated Press

March 9 2006

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- The unlicensed pilot who got drunk, stole an airplane,
flew it from Connecticut to New York and landed it at a closed airport was
sentenced Wednesday to a year in prison.

Because he has already served nine months, 21-year-old Philippe Patricio of
Bethel, Conn., is eligible for immediate release, but he still faces airport
security charges in Danbury, Conn.

Patricio's joyride with two friends last year won wide attention because it
seemed to demonstrate lax security at small airports despite the 2001
terrorist attacks.

He pleaded guilty in January to reckless endangerment, drunken flying and
resisting arrest. He admitted taking a single-engine Cessna from Danbury
Municipal Airport in the early hours of June 22, drunkenly flying it for
three hours and resisting arrest when he landed at the closed Westchester
County Airport.

Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano said at the time that when the
cockpit doors were opened "a significant number of beer cans" fell to the
tarmac.

Patricio, though unlicensed, said before an earlier court appearance that he
had enough training to fly the plane and never meant any harm.

Westchester County Judge Rory Bellantoni said during Wednesday's sentencing
hearing that the first thing people thought of when they heard about the
incident was terrorism.

After the remark, Patricio turned his back on the judge, who became angry,
The News-Times of Danbury reported.

"You seem to have a problem with stupidity," Bellantoni said.

The judge added, "You seem to have a bad attitude. You're angry at society
for punishing you for a crime you admit you committed."


Copyright 2006 Associated Press