Michele Beckwith Acting U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California
Brett Curtis Hair, a 22-year-old resident of Bakersfield, has been arrested for allegedly pointing a laser at an aircraft. Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced the arrest.
The indictment claims that on September 11, 2024, Hair aimed a laser pointer at Air One, a helicopter operated by the Kern County Sheriff's Office.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has noted that exposure to lasers can cause visual impairment, posing significant risks to aircraft safety. In 2024 alone, pilots reported 12,840 incidents of laser strikes to the FAA.
The investigation into this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Kern County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar is handling the prosecution.
If found guilty, Hair could face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. However, any sentence would be determined by the court after considering statutory factors and federal guidelines. It is important to note that the charge is currently only an allegation; Hair is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
