Glenwood Arthur Bringle, a 56-year-old resident of Bagdad, Arizona, has been sentenced to nine days in prison and three years of supervised release. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Susan M. Brnovich on June 25, 2025. Bringle was convicted for aiming a laser pointer at United States Air Force planes.
The incident occurred on October 5, 2021, when Bringle targeted two F-16 fighter jets with a laser pointer during their training exercises near his home. The laser strikes illuminated the cockpits, disrupting the pilots' vision and impacting their ability to operate the aircraft and complete their training.
Bringle pleaded guilty to the felony charge of Aiming a Laser Pointer at an Aircraft or the Flight Path of an Aircraft on February 26, 2025. As part of his plea agreement, he relinquished ownership and possession of several firearms and lasers that were confiscated during a search warrant executed at his residence on November 8, 2021.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Phoenix Field Office, the United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations, and Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution was managed by the United States Attorney’s Office in the District of Arizona, Phoenix.
