Thu, Nov 10, 2005
Stargazing Could Lead To 20 Years In Jail
A New Jersey man pleaded guilty Wednesday to charges he pointed
a hand-held laser at the crew of a charter flight as it passed
overhead, temporarily blinding both pilots.
David Banach, 39, of Parsippany could get probation alone after
pleading guilty to one count of interfering with the pilots of a
passenger aircraft --- or, he could also be sentenced to as much as
20-years behind bars, according to the Associated Press.
As was reported in Aero-News, Banach was
indicted in March for "reckless endangerment of human life" for
pointing the laser into the cockpit of the passing
jet.
The charter was flying from Boca Raton, FL to Teterboro with six
passengers on board when the pilots said they were painted by the
laser three times. Both said they lost their night vision for a
time.
Branach was charged under a provision of the controversial USA
Patriot Act. His lawyer had argued that the law is
unconstitutional.
"It should be limited
to acts of terrorism," attorney Gina Mendola-Longarzo told
reporters following the guilty plea. "Any interference with mass
transit that's reckless would qualify," she said, adding that
driving recklessly near a bus could conceivably qualify.
There's no indication why Branach decided to enter a guilty
plea. Mendola-Longarzo had previously maintained her
client had used the laser pointer to look at stars with one of
his daughters.
There is also no word on whether Branach struck a deal with
prosecutors.
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