A three-and-a-half-year-long legal saga came to an end on Wednesday as the pilot accused of flying too close to the YSU stadium during a Penguins home game appeared in court and entered a plea.
Christopher Wilkinson appeared in Youngstown Municipal Court and pleaded guilty to one count of inducing panic. A charge of disorderly conduct was dismissed. Aluminum Tool Case
Since Wilkinson has no prior record, Judge Carla Baldwin decided that five days Wilkinson already spent in jail was enough. The remaining 175-day jail sentence was suspended.
Wilkinson was placed on probation for one year. He was also fined $1,000 and ordered to perform thirty days of community service.
Authorities say Wilkinson's small plane flew near the home crowd in September 2019.
Custom Aluminum Cases The case had been rescheduled several times and was scheduled to begin a trial on Wednesday when Wilkinson opted for the plea.