A 52-year-old man who has been convicted of 29 felonies in Florida admitted that he shot down a drone being used by police who were investigating a burglary.
Wendell Doyle Goney, of Mount Dora, entered a guilty plea to a charge of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon last week in the court for the U.S. Middle District of Florida.
The charges spawn from an incident that took place over two years ago on July 11, 2021. According to the plea agreement, on that day, deputies from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded to a burglary at a 10-acre business in Mount Dora.
As deputies were using a law enforcement drone to assist with the outdoor search, the drone was destroyed by gunfire from a neighboring property. Deputies responded to the neighboring property and were confronted by Goney, who admitted that he had just shot down the drone with a .22 caliber rifle.
Goney claimed the drone had been “harassing him” and admitted to deputies that he could not lawfully possess a firearm because he was a convicted felon.
A record check confirmed that Goney has been convicted of 29 felonies, including aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest with violence, illegal drug possession, burglary, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
As a convicted felony, Goney is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law.
Goney now faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set in the case.