Man pleads guilty to aiming laser pointer at helicopter

BALTIMORE (AP) -- A 24-year-old man has pleaded guilty to aiming a laser pointer at a Baltimore County Police helicopter.

James Robert Hensler of Dundalk entered the plea Thursday in federal court in Baltimore. He faces a maximum of five years in prison at sentencing on March 25.

According to his plea agreement and court documents, Sept. 30, Hensler aimed a laser pointer beam into the cockpit of a police helicopter flying over Patapsco High School in Dundalk. The cockpit was illuminated twice.

Prosecutors say two flight officers in the helicopter put a spotlight on the person they saw illuminate the cockpit and called for ground units question him.

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