2 South Texans Accused of Shining Laser at Chopper

Two South Texas men have been arrested on indictments accusing them of shining a laser pointer at a medical helicopter.

A U.S. attorney's statement Monday says Joshua Nathaniel Vela and Jon David Lopez are charged with aiming the laser pointer at a Halo Flight helicopter on Dec. 27. The two 21-year-old Alice men are free on their own recognizance pending their arraignment before a federal magistrate in Corpus Christi on Thursday.

If convicted, they could be sentenced to up to five years in prison and fined up to $250,000.

Vela's attorney didn't respond to a message seeking comment. No attorney was listed in court records for Lopez.

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