Man who pointed laser at aircraft lands a 30-month prison sentence

[Wrightwood]

New York (CNN) -- A judge in California has sent a strong message to anyone who thinks that pointing lasers at aircraft is just harmless fun 'n' games.

U.S. District Judge Stephen V. Wilson sentenced a 19-year-old man on Monday to 30 months in federal prison for shining a laser pointer at a plane and police helicopter, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, which prosecuted the case.

Adam Gardenhire deliberately pointed the commercial grade green laser at a private Cessna Citation that was landing at the Burbank Bob Hope Airport in California on March 29, 2012.

Gardenhire, of North Hollywood, California, was arrested and pleaded guilty in the incident as part of an agreement with prosecutors in October.

FBI: 'Epidemic level' of laser attacks on planes in U.S.

The pilot of the corporate jet was hit in the eye multiple times and had vision problems through the next day, court documents say.

Later, a helicopter sent by the Pasadena Police Department to investigate the incident also was again hit by a laser, but the pilot had protective equipment and was not injured.

In court documents, his attorney argued he did not intend to put anyone at risk.

"Gardenhire had no idea that the deceptively ordinary laser he had borrowed from a friend was powerful enough to be seen by, much less distract, a pilot thousands of feet away," wrote attorney Sean Kennedy.

Gardenhire is the second person indicted under the new federal law making it a federal crime to target aircraft with lasers, according the U.S. Attorney's office.

In 2005, there were fewer than 300 incidents where planes were targeted, but that number grew by more than 12 times to nearly 3600 in 2011, according to the FAA.

"Shining a laser into the cockpit of an aircraft is not a joke," the agency's former administrator, Randy Babbitt, said in 2011 announcing a crackdown. "These lasers can temporarily blind a pilot and make it impossible to safely land the aircraft, jeopardizing the safety of the passengers and people on the ground."

The FAA attributes the massive increase in incidents to laser pointers being more widely available online, stronger power levels, and an increase in green lasers which are easier to see, as well as better reporting of the incidents by pilots.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/25/us/california-laser-sentence/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

[K9luvr]

New York (CNN) --

In court documents, his attorney argued he did not intend to put anyone at risk.

"Gardenhire had no idea that the deceptively ordinary laser he had borrowed from a friend was powerful enough to be seen by, much less distract, a pilot thousands of feet away," wrote attorney Sean Kennedy.

How come I keep hearing the chorus from the Castaways song?

                                                    

Liar, liar, pants on fire
Your nose is longer than a telephone wire

                                                    

[lagomorphmom]

I'm tickled pink also. How do they catch these people??? I guess these people do it a lot and so are easy to track?

[Wrightwood]

[Wrightwood]

Advisory: Hesperia - Suspect arrested for pointing a laser at an aircraft

DATE/TIME: February 27, 2014/10:50 p.m.
INCIDENT: Pointing a Laser at an Aircraft
LOCATION: Interstate 15/Joshua/Hwy 395, Hesperia
VICTIM: Two San Bernardino County Sheriff's Deputies
SUSPECT: Jenny Gutierrez, age 19

On Thursday, February 27, 2014, at approximately 10:50p.m., a San Bernardino County Sheriff's patrol helicopter was targeted with a high powered laser beam. The helicopter was flying over the 15 freeway in Hesperia patrolling the High Desert when it was struck multiple times. The laser was being pointed from a moving vehicle traveling along the northbound 15 freeway. Both the pilot and flight officer were temporarily blinded by the laser beam. The helicopter crew was able to follow the vehicle and direct Hesperia Deputies to their location. Deputies quickly identified a female passenger in the vehicle as being involved with the incident. They also located the green laser which was used to target the helicopter. Jenny Gutierrez, age 19, was arrested and booked into the High Desert Detention Center under Penal Code Section 247.5-Pointing a laser at Aircraft.

Laser strikes have increased this year across the country. These devices have been pointed at planes, airliners and helicopters from miles away. The light is often diffused by the plane's windshield and can temporarily blind pilots.

The Federal Aviation Administration announced in 2011 that it would impose civil penalties up to $11,000 for pointing a laser at an aircraft. In 2012 the FBI announced the ability to bring criminal charges for pointing a laser at an aircraft , with penalties of up to 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

If anyone has information about a laser strike or witnesses someone pointing a laser at an aircraft immediately call 911.

Refer: Public Affairs Division
Phone No.: (909) 356-3800

[K9luvr]

If I were in the aircraft and affected by one of these knuckleheads, I think after the criminal charges were over, I'd file civil damages against them and sue the pants off of them.  Maybe if these goons got double teamed, the word would get out and they'd knock it off. 

One can dream, can't one?   

[Wrightwood]