Summary
- Treyarch co-founder Peter Tripp Akemann pleaded guilty to “unsafe operation of an unmanned aircraft” after colliding a drone with a firefighting plane.
- Akemann has reportedly signed a plea deal, requiring that he compensate the Quebec government for damages to the plane and perform community service.
- The relief efforts for the Los Angeles wildfires have caused numerous delays, though recent reports confirm the largest fires have been contained.
Treyarch co-founder Peter Tripp Akemann has pleaded guilty to hitting a firefighting plane with his drone amidst the relief efforts connected to the Los Angeles wildfires. The ongoing natural disaster has made international news with the destructive fires ravaging the Los Angeles area and several surrounding communities. The Palisades and Eaton fires are expected to stand as two of the most destructive wildfires in California history, with aid being brought in to quell the fires from as far away as the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. Now, a prominent figure in gaming has found themselves in hot water connected to the fires.
During his time in the gaming industry, Peter Tripp Akemann was a fundamental member of one of gaming’s most iconic developers. In 1996, Akemann helped to co-found Treyarch Invention LLC, the studio that would become a staple in gaming thanks to the overwhelming success of the Call of Duty franchise. Akemann would later go on to serve as president for VR game developer Skydance Interactive, most well-known for the Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners games. Now, however, Akemann could be facing serious repercussions for an illegal drone flight.
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Treyarch Co-Founder Peter Akemann Pleads Guilty to Drone-Plane Crash
As reported by PCGamer, Peter Akemann has been identified as the drone pilot behind a collision with a firefighting plane. Akemann has been charged with one count of “unsafe operation of an unmanned aircraft” in connection to the incident, with video of the courthouse corroborating the allegations. Akemann reportedly agreed to accept a guilty sentence as a result of the collision, with the Treyarch co-founder reportedly signing a plea deal. The deal will see Akemann required to compensate the Quebec governement for the damages to the firefighting plane alongside performing 150 hours of community service.
The effects of the fires ravaging Los Angeles have gone beyond the destructive damage, sidelining plenty of popular productions. Popular Dungeons and Dragons series Critical Role took a brief hiatus during January due to the fires, after host Matt Mercer and cast member Marisha Ray were forced to relocate. Critical Role would later support the relief effort for the fires as well, donating to the California Community Foundation and hosting a charity one-shot to benefit those affected by the fires.
Akemann’s blunder during the California wildfires comes as the relief effort has recently hit a major milestone. Recent reports have confirmed that the Palisades and Eaton fires have been fully contained as of February 1, putting an end to the most devastating fires in the disaster. The fires would see a major impact on the films industry with their close proximity to Hollywood, with everything from TV shows to trailers for movies like Daredevil: Born Again being delayed. The containment of the California wildfires will hopefully pave the way for affected families to begin the recovery process.
Treyarch
- Date Founded
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1996
- Headquarters
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Santa Monica, California, United States