Cape May County Man Pleads Guilty to Shooting Down Drone

A Cape May County man has pleaded guilty to one count of fourth-degree criminal mischief for shooting down a remote control helicopter, also known as a “drone”that was flying in the area of his home in 2014, Cape May County Prosecutor Robert L. Taylor said on Friday.

Russell Percenti, 34, of Lower Township, admitted that he shot down a remote control helicopter belonging to his neighbor, Leonard Helbig, of the Villas, on Sept. 26, 2014. Helbig said he was using the drone to take pictures of his friend’s house that was under construction.

While operating the drone, Helbig said he heard several gunshots at the same time he lost control of the drone. Once he retrieved the drone, he noticed it was damaged and contacted Lower Township Police.

Percenti was arrested following an investigation. Police seized a shotgun from his home.

When Percenti shot the drone down, it was in the vicinity of his home on the 1000 block of Seashore Road in the Erma section of Lower Township.

Fourth degree crimes can carry a penalty of up to 18 months New Jersey State Prison, but Percenti is expected to be sentenced to probation.

Sentencing is scheduled for April 29.

Drones are currently banned in Ocean City until Sept. 8, at which time council is expected to consider the issue more thoroughly.

They were banned in November, and council members can decide if they want to explore the issue at any point before the ban expires. Nothing has been said in public about the issue recently.

The attached image is a Patch file photo