An Elizabeth man today admitted repeatedly aiming a laser pointer at a television news helicopter, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Stiven Lopez-Bender, 27, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Kevin McNulty in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count of aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On Nov. 11, 2015, a news helicopter went to a location in Elizabeth to cover a story. Lopez-Bender admitted that when the helicopter arrived at the location, he aimed a green laser and struck the flight deck of the helicopter through the main windshield.
Lopez-Bender also admitted he pointed the green laser at the helicopter a second time as he emerged from his SUV and again as he walked toward an apartment building. Afterwards, he pointed the green laser at the helicopter for a fourth time from a window in the apartment building he had just entered.
The charge is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 28, 2016.