Jury convicts man of firing shots at National Guard helicopter

A federal jury has convicted a 61-year-old man accused of shooting at a Louisiana Army National Guard helicopter pilot who was providing aerial surveillance as part of a marijuana eradication detail in Winn Parish.

U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley says James L. Kelly, of Sikes, was found guilty Wednesday of endangering the safety of a pilot, committing an act of violence against a pilot and using a deadly and dangerous weapon to forcibly assault, resist, oppose, impede, intimidate and interfere with a pilot.

The shooting happened about 3 p.m. Aug. 2, 2010, near Sikes. Kelly was arrested and authorities recovered a 9mm semiautomatic handgun he used to shoot at the helicopter. The pilot was not injured.

Kelly faces up to 20 years in prison on each count when sentenced Dec.14.