Man pleads guilty to interfering with military flight
May 7, 2010, 04:59 pm
A man has pled guilty to a charge involving his interference with a military helicopter.
Charles Clausen, 58, of Hammond, Louisiana, entered the plea after investigators said he temporarily blinded the crew of a military helicopter, which was en route with other aircraft while returning to the Hammond Northshore Regional Airport.
The New Orleans office of the FBI said Clausen pointed a Brinkmann Q-Bean flood light at the aircraft because he did not want them flying near his home.
U.S. Attorney Jim Letten said law enforcement's efforts demonstrate a commitment to keep military personnel safe.
"We will not tolerate abuses of the military, nor will we tolerate interference with the safety and efficiency of transportation in this country," Letten said.
Sentencing for the charge is expected to occur on June 8 of this year, and Clausen faces up to one year in prison anda $100,000 fine, along with a year of supervision upon his release.
Recently, a man charged in connection to a bomb scare in New York City's Times Square was caught while on board an Emirates Airlines flight that was about to take off. Faisal Shahzad has admitted to his role in the plot, though the delay in catching him has prompted questions about the effectiveness of the country's no-fly list.
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