Confiscated airplane will likely produce big windfall to county

Cherokee County could be the new owner of an airplane seized in a drug raid June 12 at the Cherokee County airport.

Gordon LeMaire, assistant district attorney, said the ownership of the airplane still remains with Rodney Kevin Dotson of both Baton Rouge, La. and Lake Tahoe, Nev.

"We expect that a grand jury will indict Mr. Dotson in the near future," Mr. LeMaire said. "If Mr. Dotson is indicted then there will be a hearing on his drug trafficking charges and another on the seizure of his property."

The drug trafficking will be a criminal case coming from the possible grand jury indictment and the seizure will be a civil case filed by the county.

The airplane, a 1978 Mooney plane, is worth $75,000 or more, the assistant district attorney said.

Mr. Dotson posted a $75,000 bond and was released. He posted another cash bond of $75,000 for the airplane and it was released to him. By releasing the plane to Mr. Dotson the county saved the cost of storing the plane, Mr. LeMaire said.

Mr. LeMaire said prior to the arrest the Cherokee County Sheriff's Department received a call June 12 from Homeland Security that Mr. Dotson was expected to land his airplane at the county airport.

The sheriff's department was on hand when the plane landed and Precinct 3's drug dog was called in. The dog located 31 pounds of marijuana in the cargo department of the plane. Street value of the marijuana is $155,000.

If Mr. Dotson is found guilty, the sheriff 's department, the district attorney's office and the Precinct 3 constable will split the revenue derived from the sale of Mr. Dotson's airplane.

Sheriff James Campbell said officers can use the money to purchase law enforcement equipment.

In the past, surveillance equipment has been purchased, as well as bullet proof vests. The money has also been used for drug buys by undercover officers.