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SANDPOINT, Idaho (AP) - A Utah pilot who crashed a plane at a northern Idaho airport has entered an Alford plea to reckless operation of an aircraft.
The Bonner County Daily Bee reports that 56-year-old Donald Moss Muirhead of Orem entered the plea Thursday.
Under an Alford plea, a defendant doesn't admit guilt, but acknowledges that prosecutors have enough evidence for a conviction.
Muirhead was charged with flying under the influence of prescription medication after the Piper Aerostar he was flying went off the end of the Sandpoint airport runway and crashed on Sept. 23. Muirhead and his two passengers weren't injured.
As part of the agreement, Muirhead will be given a suspended 30-day jail sentence and have his pilot's license suspended for a year.
He must also pay $2,500 for damage at the airport. That's the amount of the county's insurance deductible to replace an antenna array that helps with measuring distance.
Sandpoint Police said Muirhead reported the plane's brakes weren't working, but the passengers told investigators Muirhead was flying too fast and touched down too far down the runway.
A sheriff's deputy said Muirhead appeared lethargic and spoke slowly, causing the deputy to determine Muirhead was under the influence of intoxicating substances. A breath test showed he had not been drinking.
Muirhead's attorney, Fred Palmer of Sandpoint, argued at a hearing last week that Muirhead wasn't impaired. He also said it would be difficult to convict Muirhead because his level of impairment couldn't be established.
As for the damaged equipment at the airport, officials said it would be replaced with a new system that will work better because it can overcome problems created by new hangars.
Muirhead could still face civil action due to the crash. ___
Information from: Bonner County (Idaho) Daily Bee, http://www.bonnercountydailybee.com (Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) 1/12/2014 10:59:59 AM (GMT -7:00)
