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Martinsburg residents enter agreements for pointing laser at aircraft

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Three Martinsburg residents recently entered into pretrial diversion agreements with the U.S. Attorney's office for aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft.

According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's office, the three 20-year-old men admitted they aimed a laser pointer near the Martinsburg Airport this summer. The news release did not mention the three defendants' names.

The three people will be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 12 months. They also must perform 120 hours of community service.

According to the release, the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 established a new criminal offense for aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft or at the flight path of the aircraft. Offenders can face up to five years in prison and a fine.

"While a pretrial diversion was appropriate based upon the particular circumstances of these cases, I sincerely hope that these cases nevertheless serve to educate the community that this relatively new crime is a serious offense with real consequences," U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld said in the release.