Guilty Plea For Man Who Aimed Laser Pointer Toward Police Chopper
BALTIMORE, Md. (WJZ)—A Dundalk man has pleaded guilty on Wednesday after he aimed a laser pointer toward a police chopper last year.
According to police, 24-year-old James Robert Hensler was arrested back on September 30, 2014 after he aimed a laser point toward a Baltimore County Police Chopper flying over the area of Patapsco High School.
Authorities say the cockpit was illuminated twice by a green laser beam and ground units were able to locate and apprehend him.
"The FBI has aggressively investigated numerous people who have pointed lasers at aircraft since Congress passed the law in 2012," said Stephen Vogt, FBI Special Agent in Charge of the Baltimore Division. "People may think of this as a harmless prank, but pointing a laser at a pilot creates an undeniable danger for everyone on board that aircraft. We ask the public to contact us with any information they may have about similar incidents."
Hensler told police he wanted to see how far the laser could shine.
He faces a maximum of five years behind bars, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.
Hensler is scheduled to be sentenced on March 25, 2015.
