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Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Man Indicted for Pointing Laser at Police Copter

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (CN) - A federal grand jury has indicted a Kern County, Calif., man in connection with laser strikes on a police helicopter and possessing seven bombs, according to an indictment unsealed Tuesday.

The grand jury indicted Pablo Cesar Sahagun, 26, of Bakersfield, with one count of aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft - the Kern County Sheriff's Department's Air 1 helicopter - and a count of possessing seven unregistered destructive devices.

Federal prosecutors say Sahagun pointed a green laser at the helicopter in February 2015. An investigation revealed the key-activated pointer was labeled as a Laser 301, a device with strong burning capabilities.

Police also found seven CO2-cartridge or cricket bombs, improvised explosive devices that can kill or cause serious injuries, prosecutors say.

Sahagun faces five years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted of aiming the laser beam at the helicopter. Conviction of the bomb charge would bring another 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

The man is scheduled to make his first appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jennifer Thurston on Wednesday.

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