WV residents enter agreements for pointing laser at aircraft - WOWK 13 Charleston, Huntington WV News, Weather, Sports

Martinsburg residents enter agreements for pointing laser at aircraft

Posted: Updated:

  • Law

  • Saturday, May 18 2013 7:02 PM EDT2013-05-18 23:02:54 GMT
    SMITHERS, W.Va. (AP) — A grand jury in Fayette County has indicted the former chief of a volunteer fire department and his wife on felony charges related to allegedly taking department funds for personal
    A grand jury in Fayette County has indicted the former chief of a volunteer fire department and his wife on felony charges related to allegedly taking department funds for personal use.

  • Wednesday, May 15 2013 4:36 PM EDT2013-05-15 20:36:48 GMT
    A panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a federal judge was right to rule that the Army Corps of Engineers did its due diligence when it granted the permit under the Clean Water Act.
    A panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a federal judge was right to rule that the Army Corps of Engineers did its due diligence when it granted the permit under the Clean Water Act.

  • Wednesday, May 15 2013 4:29 PM EDT2013-05-15 20:29:23 GMT
    Alcan alleges the tax department didn't present evidence to support its valuation method and also failed to respond to Alcan's expert.
    Alcan says the tax department didn't present evidence to support its valuation method and also failed to respond to Alcan's expert.
    •   

Three Martinsburg residents recently entered into pretrial diversion agreements with the U.S. Attorney's office for aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft.

According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's office, the three 20-year-old men admitted they aimed a laser pointer near the Martinsburg Airport this summer. The news release did not mention the three defendants' names.

The three people will be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 12 months. They also must perform 120 hours of community service.

According to the release, the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 established a new criminal offense for aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft or at the flight path of the aircraft. Offenders can face up to five years in prison and a fine.

"While a pretrial diversion was appropriate based upon the particular circumstances of these cases, I sincerely hope that these cases nevertheless serve to educate the community that this relatively new crime is a serious offense with real consequences," U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld said in the release.