The Lincoln Parish “Drone Trial” that was set to begin at 9:00 AM this morning in Third Judicial District Division C Judge Bruce Hampton’s Ruston courtroom was delayed until 2:30 PM this afternoon, due to a lengthy misdemeanor docket.
The prosecutor, Louisiana Assistant Attorney General Michelle Thompson of Monroe and defense attorney Jordan Bird of Shreveport could be seen retiring to the court’s jury room early on, presumably to discuss logistics.
At their brief appearance at the bench, they said there were three motions for Hampton to consider prior to trial, two for the prosecution and one for the defense.
One of the prosecution motions is a request to introduce evidence of other “related crimes” that allegedly took place at another time, and the other is a motion in limine to exclude expert testimony by the defense.
The defense motion is a motion to introduce expert testimony via skype and have it projected upon a screen in the courtroom.
James Benson is accused of criminal trespass for overflying a neighbors property with his unmanned drone.
Lincoln Parish News Online 
02/12/2020 at 12:16 pm |
At what level does the ownership of space end 50’100,200 etc?
02/12/2020 at 1:39 pm |
There is no ownership of air space
11/22/2020 at 5:47 pm |
a landowner owns as much of the space above the ground as he can occupy or use in connection with the land.
02/12/2020 at 12:20 pm |
Looks like a set up to pit state against the Feds (FAA). Remember Ruston airport depends on federal dollars.
02/12/2020 at 6:58 pm |
This is so ignorant. Let’s please try real criminals and don’t waste time and money on stuff like this. Drones are still kind of new. If you have flown a drone, you know they can kind of get out hand quickly. Typical Sheriff Office bull crap. Sounds more like a big head power stroke issue. JS
02/12/2020 at 8:05 pm |
Probably more to the story than just flying drone. Most likely two a–holes butting heads over pass disagreements.
02/12/2020 at 8:43 pm |
Sounds more like it. Ha!
02/13/2020 at 11:47 am |
I can tell you this sounds like damage control for the new sheriff elect to avoid a lawsuit for unlawful arrest , you don’t own the air above your property