Felon shot sheriff's drone out of the sky. Now he faces up to 10 years in prison.
A 29-time convicted felon who shot down a Lake County Sheriff’s Office $30,000 high-tech drone in 2021 has pleaded guilty in federal court to being a convicted felon with a firearm and could be sentenced for up to 10 years in prison.
A sentencing date has not been set for Wendell D. Goney, 52, of Mount Dora, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.
Sheriff’s deputies responded to a burglary call on July 11, 2021 at a 10-acre warehouse and greenhouse complex in Eustis.
They decided to launch the drone equipped with infrared cameras and other high-tech gear. Some of the other drones are less sophisticated, but still cost $4,500 or $15,000, deputies told the Daily Commercial.
Sgt. Chris Stevens told the Daily Commercial that year that he heard the first shot.
“It sounded like a firecracker, but a .22-caliber rifle can sound like that. When I heard the second shot, someone yelled, ‘Someone’s shooting at your drone!' ”
The drone made a sharp turn, fell on the gutter of a building, and burst into flames.
“It fell on a metal building, so it didn’t cause any damage. I was grateful for that,” Stevens said.
Goney claimed the drone was “harassing” him, but later admitted that he was not allowed to have a firearm, according to law enforcement.
He has 29 felony convictions in Florida, including aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest with violence, illegal drug possession, burglary, and possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon under federal law, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
He was prosecuted under the Project Safe Neighborhoods program, a joint state and federal agency initiative aimed at reducing violence crime.
Lake County Sheriff’s Lt. John Herrell said Monday that the drone was later replaced, thanks to an insurance payout, but a new federal law has grounded all but four of the 17-drone fleet.
The law banned the use of drones manufactured by “countries of concern,” Herrell said. That includes China.
The good news is that the sheriff’s office is going to be able to sell 13 such drones to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement on Friday and buy new, approved drones with state grant money.
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The drones have been credited by the sheriff’s office with stopping an armed man from committing suicide, rescuing people lost in the woods, and helping firefighters find hot spots.
Use of the drones is also cheaper than firing up the sheriff’s helicopter.
Several deputies carry the drones in their patrol cars for quick use.
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: 10-year prison sentence possible for shooting down sheriff's drone
