Laguna Niguel Man Charged with Attempting to Bring Down Sheriff’s Helicopter

An Orange County man was in hot water yesterday after allegedly firing a rifle at an Orange County Sheriff’s Department helicopter following a birthday party that quickly turned into a nightmare.

Justin Derek Jennings, 39, of Laguna Niguel, was arraigned in United States District Court in Santa Ana and pleaded not guilty to attempting to damage, destroy, or disable an aircraft. A federal magistrate judge ordered him jailed without bond, scheduled an August 5 trial date, and slapped Jennings with a possible 20-year prison sentence.

According to court documents, Jennings’ birthday party on March 9 started off like any other. However, as the night wore on, Jennings’ rage escalated, and he allegedly fired an entire magazine’s worth of ammunition inside his home. His family fled the scene, reported the incident to law enforcement, and called for backup.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department responded with a helicopter and several deputies, who circled the area in an attempt to coax Jennings out. However, Jennings allegedly had other plans. He began firing his rifle upwards in the sky, taking aim at the helicopter whenever it was visible to him. This back-and-forth game of cat and mouse continued for at least 20 minutes, with Jennings periodically firing at the helicopter.

After speaking with an Orange County sheriff’s deputy, Jennings eventually surrendered. During a search of his residence, law enforcement seized two revolvers, two handguns, and two rifles, along with multiple rounds of ammunition. Bullet casings were scattered throughout the floor, and law enforcement also seized two magazines and a box of ammunition from beneath the window where Jennings allegedly fired.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The Orange County District Attorney’s Office charged Jennings in connection with this incident, but dismissed the case so the federal case against him could proceed. The FBI and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department investigated this matter, and Assistant United States Attorney Caitlin J. Campbell of the Santa Ana Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

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