BRENTWOOD, LOS ANGELES (KABC) — A Brentwood man accused of a string of crimes that include pointing a laser beam at aircraft and impersonating a firefighter in the Palisades Fire burn scar is now avoiding prison time because of a plea deal.
Steve Farzam on Monday agreed to plea no contest to 13 felonies in exchange for three years probation. Farzam was originally charged with 28 criminal counts that included 23 felonies.
“I can’t say that I am not disappointed that he’s not going to prison,” said now retired helicopter pilot Morrie Zager.
Back on Feb. 21, 2025, Zager was piloting AIR7 when investigators say Farzam pointed a blue laser at the cockpit, as well as other commercial and law enforcement aircraft that night.
A man accused of impersonating a firefighter and pointing a laser at multiple aircraft is now being charged with 28 criminal counts.
Zager was an employee of Helinet, the company that owns and operates AIR7.
Zager says this was the first time in his career he was hit with a blue laser and describes it as an incredibly painful experience.
“That immediately felt like somebody swung a baseball bat and hit me in the back of the head,” said Zager.
Despite feeling an immediate headache, Zager says he kept control of the helicopter.
The 13 felonies Farzam pled no contest to include three counts of pointing a laser at an aircraft, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of impersonating a peace officer.
The FBI searched Farzam’s Brentwood home last year after the laser strikes and found on his property a fire truck with ash and char marks. Records show that firetruck was registered to a fake fire department.
“During the Palisades Fire he tried to badge his way into fire zones,” said prosecutor David Ayvazian during Farzam’s arraignment back in July.
Ayvazian went on to say Farzam posed as an arson investigator in the Palisades burn scar.
On Monday, both Farzam and a woman who was at his side declined ABC7’s requests for a comment.
If Farzam does violate his probation, the judge made it clear she will send him to prison on a 12-year sentence.
There’s a whole host of probation conditions that Farzam must abide by that include zero impersonating of any first responder, and he is not allowed to be in possession of any lasers.
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