14 DAY TRIAL // Geoffrey Biteman is the 18-year-old boy who made the headlines after stealing a small Cessna 150 aircraft from 1971 belonging to US Air Force major Joshua Rasmussen and flying it around Minnesota.
The major was serving in Afghanistan when his brother, Army Major Adam Rasmussen, put the plane up for sale and the teenage boy came to take a look at it. Geoffrey pretended to be interested in the aircraft and took it out for a spin, then telling the owner's brother that he is more interested in buying a different aircraft from another person.
After that event, the bold teenager stole the plane and flew it all over the state for his summer holidays. For his joyride, Biteman now faces felony charges and up to ten years’ jail time. Besides these charges, the boy is also investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration for flying an aircraft without a license or registration.
The teenager was arrested last month after dodging the police for a few weeks. He admitted to stealing and flying the plane without permission or even flying lessons. When asked about his flying skills, the boy said that he had taught himself and the only certified classes he had were those from the aviation mechanics facility where he was studying. Some may say that either he is very smart or incredibly lucky.
Biteman used the plane to fly across the Red River and work for a farmer hauling sugar beets, according to Roseau Police Chief Ward Anderson's statement for UPI. On his adventurous joyride, the boy landed the plane on a highway at 10 o'clock in the night and taxied on a farmer's yard endangering the safety of locals.
Geoffrey Biteman is now in jail and will be sentenced next month after confessing to his crimes. The self-taught pilot caused quite the noise with his summer adventure, but now has to take responsibility for the illegal acts he committed.