A Pacific Beach man won a three-week delay Thursday in his arraignment for allegedly pointing a laser at a police helicopter flying over Fiesta Island.
Robert Louis Silva Jr., 32, remains free on $25,000 bond and he asked for the delay so he can hire his own attorney. San Diego Superior Court Judge Melinda Lasater agreed to the delay after Silva waived his right for a speedy arraignment.
Silva was arrested March 21 after a San Diego Police helicopter crew radioed dispatchers at 10:30 p.m. to say someone was pointing a laser at the helicopter from Fiesta Island. A laser can distract or blind a pilot during a flight.
Silva is charged with a felony and he told a reporter afterwards he takes the charge very seriously. He declined to say anything about the offense, saying he wanted to talk to an attorney before he made any comment about the case.
Silva is expected to plead not guilty when he returns to court on April 19. A prosecutor did not object to the arraignment being delayed.