Dayton man accused of shining laser at aircraft avoids jail time

Montgomery County Common Pleas Courtroom. JIM NOELKER/STAFF FILE

Credit: JIM NOELKER

Credit: JIM NOELKER

Montgomery County Common Pleas Courtroom. JIM NOELKER/STAFF FILE

A Dayton man accused of pointing a laser at an airplane in March was sentenced Wednesday to up to five years probation after he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.

Rustam Gegraev, 37, pleaded guilty in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court to possession of criminal tools, a fifth-degree felony.

Rustam Gegraev

Credit: Montgomery County Jail

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Credit: Montgomery County Jail

“He pointed a laser at a fixed wing airplane and they were able to pinpoint his location and identify him,” Dayton Police Department spokesman James Rider said previously.

The specific type of plane and whether it was private, commercial or military was not clear.

Officers arrested Gegraev shortly before 10 p.m. March 11 in the 200 block of Parker Avenue in Dayton.

One count of attempt to commit interfering with operating of aircraft with laser, a third-degree felony, was dismissed as part of his plea agreement, documents show.

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