And while the security debate promises to rage again, authorities in Harrison, N.Y., have the practical issues of what to do with the young man in the spotlight at center stage. Philippe Patricio has been held without bail since he allegedly stole the 172 and flew a couple of teenaged friends around the area for a couple of hours before landing on a taxiway at Westchester County Airport about 4 a.m. on June 22. Security guards at the airport reported that beer cans tumbled out of the airplane as Patricio and his friends got out of the plane. Patricio faces felony charges of possession of stolen property, reckless endangerment and the misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest. He pleaded not guilty to all the charges and was denied bail in court last Friday. Patricio’s lawyer, Edwin Camacho, said the charges don’t fit the crime. “This really is a misdemeanor situation that’s been made into a felony situation because of 9/11,” he told Greenwich Time. “We have a joyriding situation, not a theft situation.” The lawyers cast Patricio as a harmless and hardworking immigrant with an alcohol problem. Judge Marc Lust has agreed to reconsider his bail decision if Patricio returns from a substance-abuse program with a good report in a few weeks.
…Suspect Denied Bail…
Key Takeaways:
- Philippe Patricio was arrested and held without bail for allegedly stealing a Cessna 172, flying it with friends, and landing at Westchester County Airport, facing felony charges including possession of stolen property and reckless endangerment.
- His lawyer contends that the incident was a "joyriding situation" unfairly escalated to felony charges due to post-9/11 security concerns, not a theft.
- The defense lawyer described Patricio as a harmless, hardworking immigrant with an alcohol problem, and the judge agreed to reconsider bail if Patricio completes a substance-abuse program with a good report.
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