Two Albuquerque men were arraigned on a federal charge for aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft.
Michael James Saavedra, 22, and Dylan James Demone, 23, both entered not guilty pleas and were released on conditions of release pending trial.
The indictment, filed on May 7, 2014, alleges that on August 21, 2013, Saavedra and Demone unlawfully and knowingly aimed the beam of a laser pointer at an Albuquerque Police Department helicopter that was in flight.
If convicted, Saavedra and Demone each face a maximum statutory penalty of five years in federal prison.
The charge in the indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendants are presumed to be innocent unless found guilty in a court of law.
The case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the FBI with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles L. Barth.
This case was brought pursuant to a Laser Threat Awareness Pilot Program established by the FBI in collaboration with the Air Line Pilots Association International and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to raise awareness of aircraft laser illumination threats.
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Key Facts
- State: New Mexico
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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