BAY CITY (WWJ) - A 72-year-old former military pilot received a probationary sentence on Monday nearly two years after he attempted to pull off an elaborate scheme to "rescue" COVID patients that involved attempting to steal a Coast Guard helicopter on the northeast side of Bay City.
As reported by mLive, Jesse T. McFadden from Omer was sentenced to one year probation by Bay County Circuit Judge Joseph K. Sheeran who said he wanted McFadden to address his underlining mental health issues.
McFadden pleaded no contest two months ago to possessing a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle. In a deal reached by McFadden's legal team and prosecutors, three counts of assaulting, resisting, or obstructing police - a two year felony if convicted - was dropped.
Prosecutors also agreed not to pursue an enhanced sentence for McFadden as a habitual offender.
“I want you to address your mental health issues,” the judge told McFadden via mLive. “That’s the primary focus of this probation. Your lawyer’s explained your condition and I understand it, but you were suffering from some delusions here, really. It’s important you take some steps to make sure this doesn’t happen again by addressing those mental health issues. You want to do that?”
“Yes,” McFadden said.
“Any help you need, you make sure you ask for it from your probation agent, you understand that?” Sheeran questioned.
“Yes.”
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McFadden stood in court wearing a "Trump 2020 No More Bullshit" sweater and a camo print Vietnam Veteran baseball hat, mLive reported.
The judge had said previously that he wouldn't give McFadden a probationary sentence, but Sheeran said in court on Monday that he had changed his mind.
He gave McFadden an opportunity to withdraw his "no contest" plea, but McFadden did not.
McFadden's defense attorney said before the court that the 72-year-old former military helicopter pilot is now legally blind and cannot fulfill his threats.
McFadden maintains that he was trying to report an emergency and believes the situation was "blown way out of proportion."
According to court documents, McFadden called Arenac County Central Dispatch on the morning of May 17, 2020, and threatened to shoot up the facility and hold staff "in quarantine."
He also said he was going to drive to an area hospital in Standish, cut power to the building and demand the keys to the ambulances.
In the last threat he made to authorities, he said he was going to head to the U.S. Coast Guard Station Saginaw River in Essexville to steal a helicopter or a boat.
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After he hung up, dispatch informed area police about the phone call. McFadden, who authorities said was an ex-Michigan Militia member, was believed to be armed with a machine gun or an M-16 and driving a black Ford Explorer.
McFadden did drive over the Coast Guard station just after 10:30 a.m. and tried to gain entry. When he was denied, he threatened to ram in the gate. Being unsuccessful, McFadden eventually drove away.
No longer after, troopers with state police came across McFadden at a Speedway gas station in Hampton Township, where his vehicle was spotted with the engine running and the driver's side door open. Bay County Sheriff’s deputies, and Hampton Township and Essexville public safety officers all arrived on scene as McFadden came out of the store.
As troopers spoke with McFadden, police went around the Ford Explorer to the passenger's side to turn it off the ignition; it was then police noticed .12-gauge Mossberg shotgun underneath a leather jacket in the passenger seat. Police said the barrel pointed toward the floorboard and the stock upright.
“He could have literally grabbed it with one hand, pulled it up, and come out shooting,” Hampton Township Police Lt. Michael Wedding previously said via mLive. “We were very fortunate he happened to walk into that store for two minutes.”
McFadden scuffled with troopers when he realized his weapon had been discovered; police deployed a taser which was ineffective when one of the barbs stuck a button.
McFadden tried to punch the officer before he was taken down and handcuffed.
McFadden was also charged in federal court with felon in possession of a firearm in connection to the same incident, but his case was dismissed in September 2020 by federal prosecutors.
