Idaho man gets prison time for pointing laser at helicopter
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COEUR D’ALENE – A 31-year-old Post Falls man was sentenced to prison after being indicted for aiming a laser pointer at a helicopter.
Aspen August Schaffer will serve 35 months in federal prison for aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft, Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott announced in a news release. Schaffer will serve an additional three years on supervised release after he is released from prison.
According to court records, Schaffer was indicted in September 2024 by a grand jury and charged with aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft in violation of federal law. On August 16, 2024, Schaffer was out with friends and pointed a bright green laser at the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office helicopter as it flew overhead.
The laser struck the helicopter multiple times and police reports say it impaired the vision of the pilot, the sergeant and the deputy who were on board.
The helicopter lost altitude, but the pilot regained control and brought the helicopter back up to altitude.
Officers tracked the car Schaffer was in and arrested him, learning he had a blood alcohol level of .11 when he was booked into the jail.
Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott commended the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, and the City of Coeur d’Alene Police Department which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Traci J. Whelan prosecuted the case.