ST. LOUIS • A St. Peters man has been indicted on a federal charge for allegedly pointing a green laser at a plane and helicopter while they were in flight, the U.S. Attorney's office said Wednesday.
Prosecutors say Brian David Monday, 30, pointed the laser at the aircraft on Nov. 4. No one was injured in the incidents, but law enforcement and aviation officials say that the beam of laser pointers and other laser-equipped devices can dazzle and blind pilots when they hit the cockpit.
Monday was indicted Feb. 2 on one count of interfering with an airplane and a helicopter, which carries a potential penalty of 20 years in prison. The indictment was sealed until his arrest Wednesday.
Monday is president and CEO of Monday Restaurants LLC, which owns and manages restaurants and lounges. He and his lawyer could not be immediately reached for comment.
In 2010, an O'Fallon, Mo. man was arrested after pointing a green laser at a Metro Air Support helicopter. Last summer, the man, Justin Stouder, 24, apologized at an FBI press conference and warned of the dangers of pointing lasers at aircraft. Stouder was not charged; instead spending a year in a probation-like program called pre-trial diversion.
Last year, there were more than 3,000 reported instances involving lasers targeting aircraft.
Updated at 4:45 p.m. with additional information from court records.
Source: http://www.stltoday.com
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