Credit: KING
Federal prosecutors say a Lynden, Wash. man used this light to 'blind' the pilots of a Border Patrol helicopter.
by KING 5 News
NWCN.com
SEATTLE – A Lynden man has been sentenced for shining a spotlight on a U.S. Border Patrol helicopter.
Wayne Groen, 42, will spend 60 days in federal custody, and 90 days under home electronic monitoring. In addition, he receives 120 hours of community service, and must pay a $5,000 fine.
Last September, Groen said he stepped outside his home to investigate a loud noise, shining a spotlight at a Blackhawk helicopter.
Prosecutors said said the spotlight was on the helicopter for five minutes, and it temporarily blinded the pilot, who was wearing night-vision goggles.
The helicopter was about 600 feet off the ground at the time of the incident.
Source: http://www.nwcn.com
A Lynden man who shined a spotlight on a U.S. Customs and Border Protection helicopter patrolling over his home in September was sentenced to two months in prison in U.S. District Court in Seattle Thursday, Aug. 4.
U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Zilly also sentenced Wayne Groen to 90 days of home detention, 120 hours of community service, three years of probation and a $5,000 fine.
According to records filed in the case and testimony in the trial:
At about 9:35 p.m. Sept. 22, the Customs Air and Marine division helicopter was patrolling the U.S.-Canada border near Lynden. The pilot was wearing night-vision goggles and was blinded by a spotlight coming from the ground. The co-pilot had to help the pilot to fly out of the area.
The helicopter returned soon after to find the source of the spotlight, and pilots and investigators on the ground determined the light was coming from the vicinity of Groen's home. When an agent on the ground drove up Groen's street, Groen shined the spotlight at him and got out of his car with the spotlight in his hand.
In April, a jury found Groen guilty of incapacitating an individual during the authorized operation of an aircraft but acquitted him of interference with the authorized operation of an aircraft.
The statutory maximum for Groen's charge is 20 years in prison, with the prosecution recommending a sentence of 10 months. The defense argued for no prison time, requesting instead that Groen get one year of probation, pay a $5,000 fine and do 120 hours of community service.
Source: http://www.thenewstribune.com
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