A 31-year-old Wallace, Idaho, man who attempted to take over a private plane at the La Crosse Regional Airport in November, has been found mentally incompetent to stand trial.
Cody A. Anderson pleaded no contest Monday in La Crosse County Circuit Court to one felony count of attempted robbery with threat of force. Four other felony charges — attempted carjacking, making terror threats, making a bomb scare and failure to comply with an officer — were dismissed, along with a misdemeanor criminal damage to property charge.
Judge Scott Horne then entered a not guilty verdict by reason of mental defect or disease. He agreed to accept a medical assessment that Anderson wasn't responsible for his actions when he boarded a private aircraft that was preparing for a trip to Ohio.
Assistant La Crosse County District Attorney Emily Ruud said the prosecution won't challenge Anderson's medical assessment. She said the prosecution and defense attorney Allison West reached an agreement for a five-year placement in a secure mental facility.
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Horne said state law allows for a confinement of up to 12½ years. He scheduled a disposition hearing for May 10.
According to prosecutors, Anderson gained access to the runway by driving through a fence before he entered an unoccupied plane that was preparing for takeoff. He entered the cockpit and was reportedly “one or two buttons” away from putting the aircraft into motion.
During a standoff with police, Anderson claimed he was carrying a plastic explosive and that he was a “suicide bomber.” The standoff lasted an hour before Anderson surrendered.
Anderson told the court he has a bachelor's degree in marketing from the University of Minnesota. He said he owned a business that shut down shortly before the incident at the airport.
Anderson also faces charges from a separate case in Vernon County, where he reportedly drove through a cornfield Oct. 31, 2023, and damaged property. He faces a felony charge of narcotics possession and misdemeanor charges of criminal damage to property and possession of drug paraphernalia. He has a status hearing set for April 3.