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A Vernon man initially identified police as the culprit responsible for pointing a laser at an airplane near Kelowna airport last year appeared in court Sept. 1 but does not appear to have been charged with the dangerous offence.

Blake Everett Dergez, born 1981, is facing 12 other charges related to incidents that took place on the night police arrested him under suspicion of pointing the powerful laser at several planes.

The Kelowna Airport manager said at the time that if the powerful laser struck a pilot in the eye, the pilot could be permanently blinded.

On Sept. 9 last year, Vernon RCMP issued a media release saying officers arrested a man in Becker Park.

Dergez was charged with assaulting five members of the public that night and an RCMP constable. He was also charged with possessing bear spray, a knife, and multiple breaches of probation.

However, no charges related to pointing a laser at a plane appear to have been laid.

Is unclear why Dergez wasn't charged for pointing a laser at a plane.

Dergez appeared in court by video in Vernon Aug. 31 but refused to say anything and does not have a lawyer.

A day later Dergez appeared in person at the Vernon courthouse for what was supposed to be the beginning of his trial.

However, Dergez complained he didn't have a lawyer, claimed to have been "blacklisted" and defence lawyers wouldn't represent him.

READ MORE: Pilot reports another laser strike during take off at Kelowna airport

Dergez said he was currently in segregation in jail and unable to make phone calls to find a lawyer.

Someone convicted of pointing a laser into an aircraft cockpit in Canada could face up to five years in prison and face fines up to $100,000.

Dergez has a lengthy criminal record and in May was found guilty of assaulting a prison guard at the Okanagan Correctional Centre in Oliver.

He was also charged in February with assaulting another prison officer.

He's also facing separate charges for possessing fentanyl and heroin for the purpose of trafficking that dates back to 2019.

In July, Dergez was sentenced to time already served in custody for an assault that took place in Vernon in June 2021. Along with assault, Dergez was also charged for carrying a slingshot.

Dergez is scheduled to be back in court next week.

READ MORE: Another passenger aircraft landing in Kelowna hit by laser

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