Man Accused Of Stalking Woman Using Airplane; Pleads 'Not Guilty'

65-year-old New Yorker Michael Arnold faces stalking allegations for allegedly using his small aircraft to surveil a woman in upstate New York from a Vermont airport. Amidst a legal whirlwind, Arnold vehemently denies the accusations, maintaining his innocence.

According to the reports by ABC News, Michael Arnold, aged 65, appeared in court for the first time on October 4 in Bennington, Vermont. He was apprehended on October 3, while driving into the William H. Morse State Airport in that town. Law enforcement reported that his single-engine Cessna 180 was located at the airport, and he had been conducting flights from there.

Arnold, who resides in Manchester, New Hampshire, had been served with a temporary restraining order by a court in Saratoga, New York, in May. One specific condition of that order was that he refrain from piloting any aircraft while the order remained in effect, according to Doucette.

The FBI in Albany had informed local authorities that New York law enforcement had been investigating Arnold on suspicion of stalking the woman in Schuylerville for several years, Doucette noted. Schuylerville is approximately 30 miles northwest of the Bennington airport.

"Officers were able to establish that Arnold had indeed been operating his airplane from the William H. Morse State Airport and was last seen flying west toward New York several days earlier," Doucette said.

Arnold's Denial and Curious Statements

The turning point in this case came when Michael Arnold was arrested as he arrived at the William H. Morse State Airport in Bennington, Vermont, where he kept his 1976 Cessna 180 single-engine plane. Arnold has been charged with aggravated stalking, obstruction, providing false information to a police officer, and resisting arrest, as stated by Bennington Police Chief Paul Doucette. He was able to post bail set at $5,000.

During his arrest, Arnold vehemently denied the accusations against him, claiming that he had not stalked anyone and that he had been riding with someone else on the day in question. Arnold's defense rests on asserting that the Federal Aviation Administration had not prohibited him from flying. He claimed he flew over Schuylerville to take pictures for their Facebook community page. 

The legal system has responded to the allegations with a temporary order of protection for the victim. This order mandates that Arnold stay away from the woman, her home, her business, and her place of employment. 

Past Allegations

Arnold had previously faced accusations of flying his plane too close to a residential area. On October 4, authorities did not provide specific details regarding how they believed Arnold had been stalking the woman using an aircraft.

The case of Michael Arnold presents a unique and disturbing scenario that has sent shockwaves through the legal system and the community of Schuylerville. As the legal process unfolds, it remains to be seen how this peculiar case will be resolved and what lessons it might offer to ensure individuals' protection and security.

Suggested Reading: Teen Girl Allegedly Recorded In Washroom Aboard American Flight