A Chula Vista man pleaded guilty Dec. 28 to a felony charge of aiming a laser pointer at a military helicopter which lit up the cockpit, making it a dangerous situation for the flight crew.
Michael Angelo Ramirez, 27, admitted to aiming the laser as the Air and Marine Operations A-Star helicopter was flying over Chula Vista on Aug. 19.
Sentencing was set for March 19 before U.S. District Court Judge Roger Benitez in San Diego. He could face up to five years in federal prison.
Ramirez was allowed to post a $20,000 property bond on Dec. 7 on condition he enter and complete a residential drug treatment program, according to court records.
The laser caused the flight spotter to close his eyes, which was dangerous because the helicopter was flying over power lines, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.
The helicopter altered its flight path, but the laser beam continued. The pilot maneuvered the helicopter to identify the source and it was coming from a white Jeep Patriot on Proctor Valley Road.
The flight crew notified San Diego Sector Communication which in turn notified the Brown Field Border Patrol station and Chula Vista Police.
The Jeep Patriot turned into a shopping plaza. Officers made contact with Ramirez, who was a passenger, and the driver.
Ramirez told officers he thought the object in the sky was a drone and shined the laser at it, according to court records. When he learned it was a helicopter, he turned the laser off, he added.
The driver, who was interviewed separately, told officers he knew the object was a helicopter as soon as it he saw it, records say. Ramirez was arrested.
