Orange County man arrested at birthday party for shooting at police helicopter

An Orange County Sheriff's Department helicopter is shown in a still from an OCSD training video.

A 39-year-old Orange County man faces 20 years in federal prison after allegedly shooting at an Orange County Sheriff's Department helicopter as his birthday party ended badly, officials said Monday.

According to a press release from the Central District of California Attorney's Office, Laguna Nigel resident Justin Derek Jennings and his family were celebrating his birthday on March 9 when the incident occurred.

“Jennings allegedly drank and became furious. As his outburst intensified, the family members present left the house,” the statement said. “After most of his family left, Jennings allegedly removed a rifle from his safe and fired an entire magazine of ammunition inside the home. The rest of Jennings' family fled and reported the incident to law enforcement.

OCSD deputies responded to the home and flew over the scene in a department helicopter.

That's when prosecutors say the 39-year-old fired intermittently at the helicopter from the second floor of his home as it circled the residence, adding that the shots Sporadic fires lasted approximately 20 minutes.

Jennings eventually left the residence and turned himself in to authorities.

“During a search of Jennings’ residence, law enforcement seized two revolvers, two handguns and two rifles as well as several rounds of ammunition,” prosecutors said. “Cases were scattered on the floor and law enforcement also seized two magazines and a box of ammunition that were on a couch under the window where Jennings allegedly fired the shots.”

Laguna resident Nigel was charged with one count of attempting to damage, destroy or disable an aircraft.

Jennings, who is being held without bail, is expected to go to trial in August.

If convicted as charged, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, authorities said.