Refueling stop in Texas leads to pilot's drug arrest

Associated Press - June 13, 2008 6:05 PM ET

RUSK, Texas (AP) - A pilot tailed by airborne officers and arrested during a refueling stop in rural East Texas is jailed on nearly two million dollars bond in a drug case.

Authorities say 51-year-old Rodney K. Dotson of Stateline, Nevada, was arraigned today in Rusk on one count of possession of a controlled substance and one count of possession of marijuana.

Cherokee County Sheriff's Detective Chris White says bond is $975,000 on each third-degree felony count.

If convicted, Dotson faces 2-10 years in prison and fines of up $10,000 on each count.

White told The Associated Press that the single-engine plane flown by Dotson, a Mooney, has been confiscated, along with its cargo of 31 pounds of "high-level" marijuana.

The marijuana has a street value of up to $200,000.

Federal agents contacted the sheriff's department to say they had been following Dotson since somewhere around Albuquerque, New Mexico.

White says Dotson landed at the Cherokee County Airport in Jacksonville yesterday and was attempting to refuel as federal agents "landed behind him."

White says Dotson told officers he was on his way to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he has a residence.

White says federal charges are pending.

Attorney Michael Kesler of Jacksonville, identified by White as Dotson's lawyer, did not immediately return a message left by The Associated Press.

Information assist from KETK-TV: http://www.ketknbc.com

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