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1 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Since You Asked: Mistletoe is probably what's up in the tree Court awards $1 million to Jackson County 6-year-old injured at birth Emergency Services, March 21 Talent father faces assault charges in alleged whipping Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency Services, March 21 Talent father faces assault charges in alleged whipping Firefighters stop Gold Hill shed fire before it spreads Missing man found dead in forest in Applegate Lake area 'We tried to de-escalate it' Politics and Elections Arthur I. Cyr: Iran – a crisis without end Arthur I. Cyr: South Korea represents long-term triumph – for them and for US Special election: Jackson County voters OK marijuana tax Ex-Merkley aide chosen as Oregon secretary of state Ashland: Budget increase, swimming pool funding discussion on council agenda Education Eight vie for Medford School Board positions Proposed Medford textbook raises constitutional concern North Medford High School principal to retire in June Southern Oregon University's building boom adds up to $130 million South Medford, Ashland, St. Mary's students building video game Environment Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 Controversial asphalt plant in Talent wins county planning approval Mt. Ashland hopes coming storm will reopen ski area Odd visitors found off Oregon Coast Forum explores data gathered in Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument State News Bend company's aim: Connect investors to Africa Brown proposes $1 billion in California drought spending Are they decorations or desecration? The Dalles Standoff: Suicide by smoke inhalation Officials urge meningitis shots at University of Oregon Nation - World Obituaries Cornelius John Meany Lewis Mark Applebaker Death Notices David Braden Frohnmayer Ray Houck Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Bank of America is predicting a massive Tesla collapse Sports Latest Stories Green Machine Tago nets game-winner, MVP for Siskiyous Panthers kick off year with win Corban takes two from Raiders No. 8 Ducks advance with victory Varsity 541 College Sports Corban takes two from Raiders No. 8 Ducks advance with victory Wiese, OSU top South Dakota State Young, UC Irvine fall just short of upset Despite critics aplenty, UCLA surprises SMU on rare 3-pointer Pro Sports Payton lifts Magic over Blazers Hoffmann goes on birdie run at Bay Hill Harden erupts for 50 in Rockets victory Djokovic reaches semifinals via walkover Grandma dies, then Hoffman takes lead Community Sports Business Latest Stories Blog: Three Cheers for Today! Test Drive: 2015 Subaru Outback Limited Silvio Calabi: 2015 Cherokee is a modern Jeep Oregon winemaking emerges as mighty agricultural force Rogue Disposal plans natural gas fueling site Real Estate News East McAndrews Road sees a resurgence in commercial projects Business briefs: March 7 New construction prices jump 18.2 percent in Jackson County People In Business People in Business: Feb. 28 People in Business Transportation Rogue Disposal plans natural gas fueling site Alaska, United Express boost Medford airport to record February CEO Rieder leaving Erickson March 31 Lodging gains bode well for travel industries Agriculture Harry & David announces new president Warm winter has fruit growers poised for action Briefcase: Business briefs for Feb. 21 Opinion Latest Letters to the Editor, March 21 Other Views: Dave Frohnmayer was a man of honor Matthew T. Mangino: When is a confession not a confession? Our View: Textbook authors' reasoning hard to fathom Letters to the Editor, March 20 Editorials Other Views: Dave Frohnmayer was a man of honor Our View: Textbook authors' reasoning hard to fathom Our View: White House public records move is less than sunny Our View: Where the wild things shouldn't be Our View: Keeping the light trained on government Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, March 21 Letters to the Editor, March 20 Letters to the Editor, March 19 Letters to the Editor, March 18 Letters to the Editor, March 17 Columns Matthew T. Mangino: When is a confession not a confession? Michael Gerson: Hillary Clinton's Nixonian path to office Arthur I. Cyr: Iran – a crisis without end Dana Milbank: GOP budget is one big gimmick George Will: Kasich waits in the wings Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Central Point Cemetery needs work and city action Guest Opinion: Return to clearcutting is wrong approach for counties Guest Opinion: Plan a Hawthorne playground for all children Guest Opinion: There is nothing uniform about the Uniform Crime Report GUEST OPINION: Police, community should work to prevent profiling Lifestyle Latest stories Barbara Presnell: Why poetry? And why do it now? Get Out! March 20 calendar of things to do Looking Up: Looking for the zodiacal light Ocean salmon look plentiful off the Southern Oregon coast this year, but next year's a different story Wood bison to roam Alaska again Food Eat this, not that Peanut allergy breakthrough Eat your sprouts More fast food perils Pork perfection: Consider pork steaks instead of ham for the Easter dinner table Home and Garden Hello, honey: Invite bees for a lush garden Understand home inspection Dear Monty: Tips for checking out an existing septic system Garden Cameos: Now is the perfect time to spot wildflowers Paul Rogers: It’s time to assess the damage to yards Health Health Watch: 5 tips for seasonal allergy relief A better bedtime Studying stress Eat this, not that Peanut allergy breakthrough Hiking Biking Faith Religion briefs Religion News: Presbyterian Church gives approval on same-sex marriage Religion briefs: Friday, March 13 More religion events in the Rogue Valley Religion Briefs Milestones and Achievements Haga-Parks Exercise helps special-needs kids adjust to airport procedures Engagement: Workman-Wright Anniversary: Hofer Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Here's five top entertainment picks for the coming week Alt-rock band Key of Three is a contender this weekend at Rising Stars Improv rock and folk band hosts a dance party at the Ashland Community Center Andrew Lloyd Webber's lush musical 'Sunset Boulevard' opens at Camelot Theatre in Talent Review: 'Same Time' after all these years Theater Andrew Lloyd Webber's lush musical 'Sunset Boulevard' opens at Camelot Theatre in Talent Review: Thanks for the Memories pulls off challenging 'Anastasia' Review: 'Same Time' after all these years Randall Theatre presents playwright Bernard Slade's comedy Thanks for the Memories presents 'Anastasia' Music Live Music in Local Clubs Alt-rock band Key of Three is a contender this weekend at Rising Stars Improv rock and folk band hosts a dance party at the Ashland Community Center Kites & Crows, Ryan Marchand and Mercy Duo face-off this weekend at Rising Stars music competition in Jacksonville Rogue Valley Chorale presents 'A Festival of Choirs' at the Craterian Theatre Community Events Rogue Valley artist Linda Evans' pastel paintings capture landscapes of Southern Oregon Ashland Independent Film Festival announces this year's lineup OSF Hip-Hop Poetry Open Mic Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Jesse Lawson and Joe Moxley host 'Barkeeper' Dining Jasmine Thai Cuisine Restaurant Inspections Agave offers gourmet tacos, tamales, ensaladas and more Serra storms Seattle Sakura Japanese Sushi Restaurant opens in new location Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines/Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Since You Asked: Mistletoe is probably what's up in the tree ... Court awards $1 million to Jackson County 6-year-old injured at birth ... Talent father faces assault charges in alleged whipping ... Since You Asked: Mistletoe is probably what's up in the tree ... Court awards $1 million to Jackson County 6-year-old injured at birth ... Talent father faces assault charges in alleged whipping ... PORTLAND Portland man sentenced to 6 months for aiming lasers at planes Comment By Steven Dubois The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Steven Dubois The Associated Press Posted Mar. 17, 2015 at 2:00 AM By Steven Dubois The Associated Press Posted Mar. 17, 2015 at 2:00 AM » Social News   PORTLAND — An Oregon man who said he dealt with the grief from his girlfriend's death by pointing a high-powered laser pointer at commercial airliners has been sentenced to six months in federal prison. Stephen Bukucs, 40, of Portland, spoke at length Monday about his girlfriend's death from an epileptic seizure after years of declining health. Following the death, the former security guard said he withdrew from his friends and family, abused prescription painkillers for a back injury and developed what would become an unhealthy interest in the laser pointer. "At the time I did these things, I was a mental and emotional wreck," he told U.S. District Judge Michael Mosman. Police arrested Bukucs in 2013 after he pointed the laser at two flights arriving at Portland International Airport. A United pilot on a flight with more than 150 passengers compared the laser's intensity to the sun in the way it lit the darkened cockpit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Peifer said Bukucs told FBI agents he pointed lasers at planes at least 20 times before. Bukucs would listen to the police scanner through an earpiece and then duck into his apartment to avoid capture. "He admitted that he was playing a cat-and-mouse game with the police; that was how he got excitement out of this," Peifer told the judge. Authorities caught Bukucs after flying decoy airplanes. A laser struck one of the decoys, and the plane relayed the light's origin to police on the ground. Investigators installed surveillance cameras that recorded Bukucs in action. Though aware the laser could annoy pilots, Bukucs said he did not have malicious intent. "I was just being stupid," he said. "I look back now and I'm so embarrassed by my actions." The judge said the trend of people pointing lasers at planes has yet to cause a crash, but the risk is real when a pilot is trying to land at a busy airport. "A variety of people commit this crime in a variety of ways," Mosman said. "There are stupid teenagers who do it once; there are people who have done it maliciously, secretly hoping to bring down an aircraft." Mosman said he considered Bukucs' case to lie somewhere in the middle. He rejected the prosecutor's request for a two-year prison sentence, granting some leniency because Bukucs was suffering from mental illness at the time of the crime. The judge, however, said it was a tough case to figure. "If someone's hungry and they steal bread, then their condition makes sense in terms of how it impacted their crime," he said. "And if someone is addicted to cocaine and they steal to buy more cocaine, then you can see some kind of connection between their condition and the crime they committed. "When someone is profoundly depressed over the death of their fiancee, and points a laser at an airplane, that connection is harder to make." By Steven Dubois The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Steven Dubois The Associated Press Posted Mar. 17, 2015 at 2:00 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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