A Tucson man is facing federal charges for allegedly pointing a laser at aircraft, an act that if convicted, could land him behind bars for five years. Charles William Preston II, 53, was indicted by a grand jury on two counts of aiming a laser at an aircraft, authorities said yesterday. This development follows an arrest on March 6, according to an announcement by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Reportedly, Preston shone a laser on two separate occasions at a fixed-wing aircraft that belonged to the Pima County Sheriff's Department. It is stated that this occurred while the aircraft was operating and in its flight path. The indictment, which was filed back on November 1, 2023, however, was only brought to light this month, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
If found guilty, Preston could face a stiff up to $250,000 fine, five years in the slammer and possibly three years of supervised release. This indictment does not presume guilt, as it is standard procedure only used to charge individuals with a crime. The accused is considered innocent until proven otherwise in a court of law.
The case is not just shining a spotlight on Preston, but highlights the broader issue of laser pointers interfering with aircraft operations - a federal offense taken seriously by law enforcement agencies. Investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in partnership with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, the case is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson.
