SPRINGFIELD, MO— A man who allegedly shot a crop dusting aircraft in an attempt toshoot it down was indicted by a federal grand jury, officials said last week.
David Leroy Dickenson, 38, of Miller, was charged in an indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury on Jan. 20.
That indictment was unsealed after Dickenson was arrested. Dickenson remains in federal custody pending the court’s ruling on a detention motion.
The federal indictment alleges that Dickenson attempted to set fire to, damage, destroy, disable and wreck a 1997 S2R 510 Thrush aircraft on Dec. 3, 2014.
Dickenson allegedly shot a firearm at an aircraft engaged in crop dusting then attempted to dispose of the firearm to prevent its discovery by law enforcement, the indictment states.
According to published reports, the pilot crop dusting in a Thrush aircraft in Lawrence County had been shot at more than 18 times. The pilot was unaware he was being shot at until he landed his aircraft at Lamar airport and saw all the bullet holes in his aircraft, reports stated.
Dickinson is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The FBI investigated the case.