A Kalispell resident has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison for aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft. The U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich announced the sentencing of Nolan Wayne Hamman, who pleaded guilty to the charges in October 2024.
The incident occurred on November 25, 2023, when a flight instructor reported someone shining a laser at her plane over Kalispell while she was flying with a minor student. Authorities from the Flathead County Sheriff's Office responded and found Hamman with the laser pointer. He admitted to targeting the plane during its flight.
Court documents revealed that Hamman's actions were not isolated; he had been engaging in similar behavior over several months. He reportedly believed that the planes were tracking him, which led him to pursue them with the laser pointer. His actions posed risks to multiple pilots, including two juveniles, as well as individuals on the ground in Kalispell.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided over the case, which was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The investigation involved several agencies: the FBI’s Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force, Federal Aviation Administration, Flathead County Sheriff’s Office, and Kalispell Police Department.
