Gyrocopter pilot sentenced to 120 days

WASHINGTON – A federal judge has sentenced the Florida man who landed a gyrocopter onto the Capitol grounds last year to 120 days in jail and one year of supervised release.

Doug Hughes, who pleaded guilty to a charge of operating as a pilot without a license, told the court during a sentencing hearing on Thursday he was sorry for his act – but didn’t regret it.

One of his only regrets, he told the court, was that it left his family in uncertainty. Hughes’ wife and youngest daughter attended the hearing and sat emotionless.

The charge carries a maximum three years in jail but under a plea agreement, prosecutors asked U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly to sentence Hughes to 10 months in prison.