Man indicted on federal charges in plane theft

A single-engine, four-seat Cessna airplane, allegedly stolen from Ontario, Canada, sits along Route FF in Carter County on April 7. The plane landed a few miles west of Ellsinore, Mo., the day before. (Daily American Republic file photo) [Click to enlarge]

ST. LOUIS -- A federal grand jury in St. Louis has indicted a man accused of stealing a plane in Canada and flying over three states before landing along a dark southern Missouri highway.

Adam Dylan Leon was indicted on federal charges of interstate transportation of a stolen aircraft, importation of a stolen aircraft and illegal entry.

Acting federal prosecutor Michael Reap said the charges stem from Leon's allegedly flying a stolen Cessna 172 aircraft into the U.S. on April 6 from an airport in the area of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.

It was owned by Confederation College, a flight training school Leon attended.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police later determined that Leon did not have authorization to fly the plane.