A San Antonio man is headed to federal prison after admitting he targeted a live television news helicopter with a high-powered laser beam. Twenty-five-year-old Christopher B. Evans was sentenced today to eight months behind bars, followed by three years of supervised release, for aiming a laser in the flight path of an aircraft, federal prosecutors announced.
U.S. Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr., and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher B. Combs confirmed the sentence handed down by Senior U.S. District Judge David A. Ezra. Evans must surrender to federal custody by February 27, 2017, to begin serving his term—a hard landing for a stunt that endangered lives and violated federal law.
On September 13, 2016, Evans pleaded guilty to one count of aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft in flight. He admitted that on October 27, 2015, he deliberately targeted a local TV news chopper as it flew north of the San Antonio International Airport, putting the crew and mission at serious risk.
The FBI warns that laser strikes aren’t pranks—they’re federal crimes. The concentrated beam can temporarily blind pilots mid-flight, causing disorientation or permanent eye damage. In 2015, San Antonio ranked among the top 15 U.S. cities for such attacks, with nearly 100 reported incidents. Each one threatens lives at 1,000 feet or higher.
Authorities say the investigation was a joint push by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the San Antonio Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael R. Hardy prosecuted the case, underscoring the federal government’s zero-tolerance stance on tampering with aviation safety.
If you witness someone aiming a laser at an aircraft, call 911 immediately. Tips can also be reported to the San Antonio FBI field office at 210-225-6741 or submitted online at https://tips.fbi.gov. One reckless moment with a laser can cost lives—and land you in federal prison.
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