Man faces up to 40 years for shining laser

A 37-year-old man from Orange has been convicted of shining a laser at two jet planes approaching John Wayne Airport last year. He’s the first in the nation to be convicted in a jury trial, according to federal prosecutors.

Dana Christian Welch was convicted Wednesday of two felonies. He faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for each count.

Welch intentionally aimed the hand-held laser at two Boeing 7-series jets May 21, according to prosecutors. The United Airlines jet had more than 180 passengers and crew members on it and the Alaska Airlines plane had more than 80 aboard. The jury acquitted him of charges that he attempted to interfere with the pilots of a police helicopter and a Delta flight.

Welch is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 15.

— Paul Anderson