July 1, 2015 - After a two-day trial, Barry Lee
Bowser Jr., 52, of Bakersfield, was found guilty today of one
count of aiming the beam of a laser pointer at
an aircraft, United States Attorney Benjamin B.
Wagner announced.
According to court documents, on September 12,
2014, Bowser aimed the beam of a green laser at
Air-1, a Kern County Sheriff’s helicopter while
it was providing support to ground units
responding to a man armed with a gun. The
helicopter was struck two times by a powerful
green laser from a distance of about 1/8 mile.
The beam of the laser appeared to track the
helicopter, which was flying at about 400 to 500
feet above the ground. The helicopter’s mission
was diverted near the approach to
Meadows
Field Airport
because of the laser strike. The pilot
experienced flash blindness and eye discomfort
and pain that lasted several hours.
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