Florida man Douglas Hughes pleaded guilty to a lesser charge today after flying a gyrocopter onto the grounds of the U.S. Capitol in April, CBS reports.
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Hughes has said his April 15 stunt was a way to call attention to what he called the influence of big money in politics.
A bystander captured the gyrocopter on video as it flew over the heads of tourists gathered near the Capitol Building. Hughes is expected to plead guilty to a felony, operating a gyrocopter without a license.
A date for Hughes’s sentencing has not been set but his attorney, Mark Goldstone, asked Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly to give him probation. The charge carries a potential three years in prison, but the government and Hughes’ defense lawyer agreed that sentencing guidelines don’t apply. At the time, he said the offered deal was too harsh for an act of civil disobedience that didn’t harm anyone. As part of his plea agreement, Hughes has agreed to the forfeiture of his gyrocopter, which was seized on the day of the incident.
Hughes’ sentencing next year will come shortly after an April 2-11 march for campaign finance reform that will start in Philadelphia and culminate in a Washington rally. His travel is now limited to the Florida county where he lives, Hillsborough.
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Hughes told reporters he started his campaign against money in politics as he was seeking a goal in life following the suicide of his 24-year-old son.
