Former condo assn. leader pleads guilty

A Newport Beach man who pointed a high-power laser at a police helicopter in 2006 has pleaded guilty to felony charges stemming from the incident and possession of cocaine, according to the Orange County Superior Court website.

Peter G. Kontos, 35, pleaded guilty Friday to four felony counts of discharging a laser at an occupied aircraft, one felony county of possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell and one count of possession of a deadly weapon, according to online court records.

Kontos also pleaded guilty Friday to numerous counts of forgery, money laundering and grand theft for embezzling more than $500,000 between 2002 and 2003 while serving as president of the Villa Point Condominium Assn. in Newport Beach, according to online court records.

Kontos flashed a high-powered green laser pointer at a Newport Beach police helicopter that was patrolling in the Villa Point area, near Newport Beach Country Club, on April Fool’s Day in 2006.

The pilot reported that a “blinding green laser light” hit the helicopter cockpit three times, Newport Beach Police Sgt. Bill Hartford told the Daily Pilot in 2006.

A later search of Kontos’ home, in connection with a police investigation of the embezzlement case, yielded several grams of cocaine, police told the Daily Pilot in 2006.

Police also found an Alpec Green Laser Pointer, which can project a beam more than one mile, according to the Alpec website.

Police said they also discovered more than $100,000 in cash during the search.

Kontos is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 20.

BRIANNA BAILEY may be reached at (714) 966-4625 or at brianna.bailey@latimes.com.