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2 Skyjack Youths Face Jail Terms With Diplomas

By CAROL STUART

An Eagleville High School senior facing prison after his scheduled graduation last night said a diploma will "make a difference" after his incarceration for participating in a 1982 skyjacking and shooting of a pilot. While Bobby White, 18, approached graduation knowing a portion of his fate, a fellow Eagleville High senior and accomplice in I the incident, Kenneth Floyd, 18, entered a guilty plea just yesterday for his involvement. Floyd plans to seek a suspended sentence. A third defendant, Todd Milnar, is scheduled to graduate Friday night from Murfreesboro's Riverdale High School, where he transferred about a year after the highly publicized January 1982 incident.

"I THINK IT makes a difference to get to go ahead and graduate for whenever [a juvenile offender] gets out of trouble," said White, who along with Milnar, and at the request of shooting victim Bob Bomar - was allowed to finish school before going to prison. "Even if you have 10 or how many-ever years to serve, you still have graduation. I know I'll still have to go, but when I do get out, I'll have my high school education."

White and Milnar will return to court in Shelbyville, Tenn., some time in the next few weeks to accept formal sentencing for 10-year prison terms after each pleaded guilty to assault with intent to commit kidnapping last February. The two waived rights to suspended sentences and probation, but will be eligible for parole in 5 1/2 years, prosecutors said.  All three had originally been charged- with kidnapping and armed robbery. Floyd entered a plea to a lesser offense yesterday, receiving a two-year sentence for attempting to commit a felony.

"THIS PARTICULAR sentence was agreed upon since his role in the case of the kidnapping and shooting of the pilot was to a lesser degree than that of the other two: boys involved," said Assistant District Attorney General Jack Bomar, no relation to the victim. "He did not come upon the scene until after the pilot had been shot and tied to the hangar. He went with the other boys to Arkansas where the plane crashed ."The state is not going to be taking any position on the suspended sentence application. We'll let the judge decide. He [Floyd] also has spent 59 days in jail on this particular charge" before he was able to make bond. Investigators said Todd and Milnar ordered pilot Bob Bomar a gunpoint to land at the Eagleville landing strip during a 1982 sight seeing trip, and Floyd arrived after Bomar was shot twice during a scuffle.

THE PILOT WAS left bound to al steel post in an unheated hangar while the three youths flew off in the plane, which they allegedly loaded with camping equipment and an assortment of guns. The trio was Captured after landing in an Arkansas field to refuel. The three, each age 15 at the time; were ordered tried as adults during a March 1982 Juvenile Court hearing. The ruling was later upheld. An additional count of attempted murder was not allowed to be transferred to a higher court. White said yesterday that he had particularly enjoyed his high school class in agriculture mechanics and planned to pursue a career in refrigeration and electrical business after he is released from prison. He said he had some training already, but hoped to be able .to participate in such programs while in custody of the Correction Department. White, who had piloted the plane, said he had to put up with a "small amount of stuff" from fellow students at Eagleville High - which graduated 32 students last night about the incident. He also said he resented publicity about "Bobby White's actions" which were reported "definitely wrong," although he would not elaborate.

Floyd's attorney said his client :had been able to catch up on work missed while he was in jail and would graduate with a "B" average. Officials at Riverdale, where 336 will graduate, said Miinar had been a "very model student" and had participated in drama activities.