Drone pilot suspected of dumping fliers in Sacramento fit to face trial, judge says
Tracy Mapes, the drone pilot suspected of dumping swastika-marked leaflets onto a Sacramento State University event and onto Golden 1 Center last year, was found competent to stand trial, a Sacramento judge ruled Tuesday.
Mapes, 56, of North Highlands faces misdemeanor charges connected to the drone flight and was present for the morning hearing before Sacramento Superior Court Judge Jennifer Rockwell, Superior Court officials said Tuesday. Mapes will return to Sacramento Superior Court on April 7 for further proceedings in the matter.
People attending the farm-to-fork event “Bites on the Bridge” on the Guy West Bridge in May 2019 were the target of handbills bearing swastikas that declared the press as “the enemy” and urged a stop to the “TV whore takeover.”
Some of the leaflets carried copyright symbols and Mapes’ name in the corner of the printout
Sacramento State University condemned the fliers as hate speech. The event continued as scheduled.
Leaflets were also dropped at Golden 1 Center before a concert by the pop singer Ariana Grande, The Sacramento Bee reported at the time.
Mapes also faces federal charges of violating national defense airspace connected to drone flights over football games at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara and Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland in November 2017.
.JPG)