YAVAPAI COUNTY — A resident of the Yavapai County community of Bagdad southeast of Kingman will spend more than a week in prison for aiming a laser point at United States Air Force planes. United States District Judge Susan M. Brnovich on June 25 sentenced Glenwood Bringle to nine days in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
The United States Attorney’s Office District of Arizona said bringle pleaded guilty to the charge of aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft or the flight path of the aircraft. The agency said Bringle aimed a laser pointer at two United States Air Force F-16 fighter jets while the pilots were conducting training exercises in the desert near his home in October, 2021.
“The laser strikes caused the F-16 cockpits to be illuminated, interfering with the pilots’ ability to see and affecting their ability to fly the F-16s and complete their training exercise,” a news release said. “As part of the plea agreement and sentence, Bringle abandoned ownership and possession of several firearms and lasers seized during the execution of a search warrant at his home.”
The FBI’s Phoenix Field Office, the United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations, and Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.