Md. homeless man pleads guilty, sent to jail for stealing, wrecking airplane

Md. homeless man sent to jail in plane theft

FREDERICK, Md. — A homeless man has been sentenced to nine months in jail for stealing and wrecking a single-engine airplane at a Maryland airport.

Fifty-one-year-old Calvin Cox also must undergo a psychological evaluation and stay away from the Frederick Municipal Airport during two years of probation under a plea deal reached Thursday. He pleaded guilty to second-degree burglary.

Cox also must make some restitution to the plane’s owner in an amount yet to be determined. Prosecutors say the preliminary damage estimate is about $12,000.

Cox says he lived in the woods near the airport more than seven years until his arrest in December. His lawyer says he stole the plane because he was homeless and cold.

Cox’s former wife had obtained a protective order 10 days before the plane incident.