Already In Jail On Unrelated Charges

A South Florida man who initially blamed his son for pointing a handheld laser at a sheriff's helicopter last month is now in jail, charged with not one but two crimes... only one of which is related to a laser.

Authorities questioned Eric Newsome, 28, shortly after the incident involving a Collier County Sheriffs Department helicopter. The helo's pilot states someone shined a laser at the helicopter four times in the early morning hours of January 20.

According to local television station NBC-2, the pilot guided police officers to the house where the light came from -- Newsome's. The man confirmed he owned a laser, but maintained his five-year-old son must have shined it on the helo.

Little progress was made on the case until two weeks later, when an investigator looking into the incident noticed Newsome was in the Collier County Jail on a charge of failure to pay child support. The officer spoke to Newsome, who once again said his son must have pointed the laser at the helicopter.

The investigator discovered a small flaw with that statement, however -- they say Newsome's son wasn't with him on January 20. Authorities then charged him with the crime... which prompted a judge to raise Newsome's bond from $2,500 to $50,000.

Aviation Supervisor Lieutenant Mark Cherney notes shining a laser at an aircraft is a third-degree felony in the state of Florida, punishable by up to five years in prison.

"I do not advise anyone to do this at all..." Cherney told NBC-2. "We don't know if the laser is actually attached to a weapon. It could be on a handgun, it could be on a long gun, we just don't know the intent of this person shooting their laser at us."

Newsome was not available for comment on the matter. His girlfriend's father says he believes Newsome shone the laser on the helicopter, for reasons unknown to him.

"I think he done wrong, I really do," said Edgar Thomas Jacob.

ANN has reported extensively on a rash of incidents where persons have shone lasers on aircraft passing overhead. Lasers can cause short-term vision loss and other potential safety issues.

Cherney said, frankly, deputies can't understand why Newsome -- or anybody -- would want to pull such a thoughtless act.

"We're not really sure and that's why we take each and every case very seriously," said Cherney. "We will put you in jail for it. If we catch you, you will go to jail."

FMI: www.colliergov.net/