Charges dismissed against pilot involved in crash
State dropped case against Ben Barrick because of insufficient evidence.
Posted — Updated
Theft charges against a pilot involved in a deadly helicopter crash that killed a Franklin County deputy in 2004 have been dismissed.
The state dropped its case against Ben Barrick, who had been in jail in Bladen County for stealing a helicopter, because there was insufficient evidence to show the chopper was ever in the state. Barrick said Thursday he plans to sue the county for putting him in jail illegally.
Barrick was piloting a helicopter went it crashed, killing Deputy Ted Horton. An investigation showed he misled Franklin county about his experience.
Barrick was also charged with stalking a deputy's wife, but all of those charges were dropped.
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