Ohioan gets jail for aiming laser at medical helicopter

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

An Ohio man accused of shining a laser at a medical helicopter pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor Friday and was sentenced to 20 days in jail.

Jared Shapiro, 23, of Columbus, entered the plea to endangering an aircraft. Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Laurel Beatty also sentenced him to 100 days community service and said he’d have to serve 180 days in jail if he violated terms of probation of up to two years.

Police said Shapiro aimed a laser scope attached to a high-powered rifle at the helicopter in September 2009 just after it left Grant Medical Center.