Pinson Man Accused Of Aiming Laser Pointer At Helicopter

Trussville AL

27 January, 2021

10:04 AM

Description

BIRMINGHAM, AL — A Pinson Man faces federal charges after being accused of aiming a laser pointer at a Jefferson County Sheriff's Office helicopter in April of 2020. Gabriel Lopez Mathews, 26, was indicted in federal court Tuesday. A one-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Mathews with aiming the beam of a laser pointer at an aircraft. According to the indictment, on April 11, 2020, Mathews aimed the beam of a laser pointer at a helicopter operated by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. The maximum penalty for aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft is five years in prison. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case, along with the Jefferson County Sherriff's Office and the Birmingham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Baty is prosecuting the case.