Ex-fugitive reactor operator accepts plea deal

A photo of Landon Brittain prior to his capture and deportation from Venezuela.

Landon Brittain, formerly a senior reactor operator at the Dresden nuclear power plant, pled guilty to one count of Obstruction of Justice/Destruction of Evidence, which carries a three year jail sentence.

Just one year ago both Landon Brittain and Michael Buhrman were enjoying the Christmas holiday in Venezuela, where they had fled after being sought by police for hijacking a car from a Kohl’s parking lot at gunpoint on May 9^th, 2012 in Woodridge, Illinois.

Now, after nearly six months of custody, Brittain’s mugshot reveals a face that is gaunt and noticeably thinned.

While not all the details of the plea agreement were made public, the office of DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin did confirm that three counts were dismissed as part of the plea deal.  Brittain will not be charged for Aggravated Vehicular Hijacking, Vehicular Hijacking, or Obstruction of Justice.

It is not known at this time whether Brittain agreed to testify against Michael Buhrman in return for the reduction of charges.

Neither Brittain nor Buhrman will be charged for fleeing and evading, when they ran from the arm of the law after committing the crime and fled as fugitives to Venezuela.

On December 24^th, Brittain was transferred to the Stateville Correctional Center where he will serve his sentence.