Judge Orders Hijacker Have Public Defender Appointed
MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Less than 48 hours after he finally returned to U.S. soil, a former Black Panther who hijacked a Miami-bound plane almost 30 years ago made his first federal court appearance Thursday.
William Potts appeared before federal Judge Alicia Otazo-Reyes and immediately took issue with being in federal custody.
"If I may your honor, I'm new at this; I would like…I have to protest these proceedings," Potts said.
Judge Otazo-Reyes asked Potts if he had a job and he responded that he was a "farmer who earns 200 Cuban pesos a month."
The judge ordered that Potts be appointed a public defender.
Thirty-years-ago, Potts boarded a plane out of Newark Airport with a pistol. He hijacked the plane which was flying to Miami, and demanded the pilots fly the plane to Havana, Cuba.
According to the Associated Press, he went to Cuba intending to learn how to overthrow the the U.S. Government, Potts thought he'd be greeted as a hero by the Castro administration and trained in revolutionary military tactics. Instead, Cuba put him on trial and imprisoned him for at least 13-years.
Early Wednesday morning he'll finally land in that plane's original destination: Miami. He's voluntarily returning to America after years of exile.
Cuban officials did offer Potts a chance to return to America before his initial trial, but Potts decided to stay on the island to prove his revolutionary bona fides.
After Potts was released from prison he continued to live in Cuba and had two daughters. Though, Cuba wasn't particularly harboring him.
Ever since 2009, Potts had written American officials asking for a pardon or a plan to come home. His efforts were met with silence.
Now, according to the AP, he's received a one use passport from the United States Interests Section and will arrive in Miami Wednesday, November 6th.
Potts' daughters were allowed to leave Cuba last year, and are now living in Georgia with family.
Potts however could very well still face charges in America. He hopes that his time served in a Cuban prison could mitigate any further punishment. "I am ready to discuss it and debate the issue in a court of law if necessary," he told CNN. "Because I am sure that any American can understand that 15-years in prison in a communist country is 15-years. It's not a Club Med situation."
Potts claimed to have no interest anymore in overthrowing the American government. He said he just wants to be a father.
