NEW YORK – A New York man has been arrested on a federal charge accusing him of knowingly aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft.
Elehecer Balaguer (Bell-ah-GWEHR) made an initial appearance Monday in Manhattan federal court. Bail was set at $50,000.
His lawyer, Manuel A. Sanchez Jr., says his client admits that he was using a laser. But he says there was no way Balaguer intended to hurt anybody.
On Friday, Balaguer spoke at a Bronx court appearance for a friend charged in the laser attack to say authorities had the wrong man. Balaguer said he did it.
Pilots of three passenger planes and a police helicopter told authorities they suffered eye injuries when a light beam was pointed at them as they flew near LaGuardia Airport on March 9.