McComb Man Charged With Aiming Laser Pointer At Medical Helicopter

An indictment was filed charging Ronald E. Deal, Sr., age 56, of McComb, Ohio, with aiming a green laser pointer at a Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center Life Flight helicopter en-route from the hospital to Bluffton Airport, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

The conduct took place on June 17, according to the indictment.

If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of factors unique to each case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

The investigating agency in this case is the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph R. Wilson.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.