Man Denies Blinding Pilots With Mirror
A man charged with using a mirror to shine a blinding light at pilots landing and taking off from an eastern Antelope Valley airfield has pleaded not guilty.
Alcide Chaisson, 70, of Llano pleaded not guilty to four counts of obstructing a flight path, a court official said Thursday. Each offense carries a penalty of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Chaisson was cited by Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies in December after pilots landing and taking off at the Crystalaire airfield near Llano complained that someone was shining a blinding light at them from the desert. Deputies said they found Chaisson outside his trailer with a four-foot-square mirror, which was confiscated as evidence.
Chaisson told the deputies that he was shining the light at the planes and gliders because the noise of aircraft flying overhead was disturbing him, authorities said.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
