Georgia man sentenced for shooting crop dusting plane

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - A Georgia man was sentenced to five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to shooting a crop duster as it flew over a watermelon field in Alabama.<br> <br> Gary Randall Jones, 56, of Kennesaw, Ga., was given the sentence Monday by U.S. District Judge Ira DeMent after pleading guilty to a charge of aircraft destruction and use of a weapon in a crime of violence.<br> <br> Jones was accused of firing three shots as the plane dusted the field in Autauga County on June 23, 2000. One bullet slightly grazed the pilot, who was able to land despite damage to critical parts of the aircraft.<br> <br> Jones felt the crop duster was flying too close to his property, prosecutors said. U.S. Attorney Leura Garrett Canary, who announced the plea and sentencing in a news release Tuesday, described it as &#34;a senseless act of violence.&#34;<br> <br> &#34;The pilot in this case should be commended for safely controlling and landing his aircraft after being shot,&#34; she said.<br>