Dateland Man Pleads Guilty After Shooting at YCSO Helicopter
A Dateland man pleaded guilty December 7 to one felony count of disorderly conduct with a deadly weapon after allegedly firing at an unmarked Yuma County Sheriff's Office helicopter during an incident in June. The plea deal carries a presumptive one year sentence with a minimum of six months, and sentencing is scheduled for January 2026, making the case a focal point for local public safety concerns.
On December 7, 2025, 51 year old Mubarak Prince of Dateland entered a guilty plea to one felony count of disorderly conduct with a deadly weapon in connection with a June incident in which he allegedly fired at an unmarked Yuma County Sheriff's Office helicopter. Prosecutors and defense reached a plea agreement that sets a presumptive sentence of one year in custody with a minimum term of six months. Prince is to return to court for sentencing in January 2026.
The June episode drew attention across Yuma County because law enforcement aircraft were involved and, according to court filings, were targeted by gunfire. No injuries were reported during the incident, and the sheriff's office investigation led to the criminal charges that were later narrowed in the plea negotiations. Initial attempted murder counts that had been under consideration were not included in the plea.
The resolution of the case through a plea deal reduces the maximum exposure for the defendant, while ensuring a custodial sentence under the negotiated terms. For local residents, the case highlights the legal consequences of endangering first responders and the community at large. Incidents that involve firearms and aircraft create heightened risk for people on the ground, for law enforcement personnel, and for critical public safety operations that rely on aerial support.
Community leaders and law enforcement will watch the upcoming sentencing hearing closely, as it will clarify how the county balances accountability and prosecutorial discretion in serious public safety cases. The outcome may also influence local discussions about rural public safety resources, response protocols for threats to aviation assets, and the importance of reporting suspicious activity. With sentencing set for January, Yuma County residents will have a clearer sense of how the courts will resolve a case that raised immediate concerns about the safety of deputies and the broader public earlier this year.
