Man gets 14 years in prison for pointing strong laser at Fresno police chopper, hospital chopper

[The Straight Story]

FRESNO, Calif. - Pointing a laser at a helicopter is no laughing matter, courts made known Monday.

Sergio Patrick Rodriguez, 26, of Clovis was sentenced today to 14 years in prison for aiming a laser pointer at Fresno police helicopter Air 1, and attempting to interfere with its operation.

According to evidence presented at trial, Rodriguez and his girlfriend, Jennifer Lorraine Coleman, 23, used a high-powered green laser pointer to repeatedly strike the cockpit of Air 1 during a clear summer night in 2012.

Air 1 had responded to the apartment complex where Rodriguez and Coleman resided near the Fresno Yosemite International Airport to investigate the report of laser strikes on Air George, an emergency transport helicopter for Children’s Hospital of Central California.

http://www.turnto23.com/news/local-news/man-gets-14-years-in-prison-for-pointing-strong-laser-at-fresno-police-helicopter-031014

[MineralMan]

1. Good.

Those things are dangerous, and a few long jail sentences would help cut down on incidents, I think.

[greytdemocrat]

46. Agree.

Hopefully the word will spread.

[Junkdrawer]

2. I see those fool things in the checkout lines....

Everyone needs one because....

[SomethingFishy]

5. Best cat toy on the planet...

Other than that? Useless...

[Politicalboi]

7. It is a good cat toy

But I feel guilty using it because there's nothing to catch. It's almost cruel, but I love to watch them play.

[Junkdrawer]

8. EEs / physics majors: can't we get something with a shorter coherent light beam??

Is there such a thing as an Almost Laser?

[Glassunion]

10. That'd be a flashlight.

[Junkdrawer]

11. Yeah, I think what I was remembering was that laser experiments are often lined up with, as you say

flashlights with special lenses.

[Junkdrawer]

13. Collimating Lens... n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. To be used at presentations

and best line of sight tool in wargames, and great cat toy.

[Adrahil]

58. Those cheap ones are no threat....

But it's fairly easy to get a very powerful one that IS dangerous.

[SomethingFishy]

3. Pointing a laser pointer at a helicopter... Stupid.

14 years? Insane.

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. I guess blindness is...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lasers_and_aviation_safety

Recently a sherif pilot had to land with sight affected. Gyro ability saved his but. He spent some time in the hospital.

[SomethingFishy]

17. You guess blindness is what? Did the guy in the story blind someone?

I must have missed that part. Oh wait, he didn't.

[nadinbrzezinski]

18. That is the potential

he was sentenced due to STANDARDS that have come from the hazard and potential hazard.

You do not like that standard, write your state legislator and change the law.

[SomethingFishy]

20. What I don't like is watching a man sit in prison for 14 years

for doing something stupid that only had the potential to hurt someone. While war criminals walk around free. While rapists walk around free. While killers walk around free.

Or do you think a year in jail isn't enough to keep the laser pointer guy from doing it again?

[nadinbrzezinski]

22. And what about if somegbody actually goes blind

or the aircraft crashes in a residential zone?

https://www.alpa.org/portals/alpa/magazine/2005/March2005_dontbeamme.htm

It might be overcharging why I urge you to contact your legislature, and as far as wars and crashing the economy, you have no argument from me, but it is not something to make light off either. Retina damage can occur.

http://www.pattyvisioncenters.com/index.php/myth_busters/myth/can_laser_pointers_hurt_your_eyes

[SomethingFishy]

24. So you think 14 years is a good sentence?

Or are you just trying to find something to disagree with me on?

I realize you have no way of knowing this but I work in the concert industry. I know exactly how dangerous lasers can be, and I know all the precautionary steps that must be taken when they are used. The FAA is involved whenever we do an outdoor show, if we can't keep the lasers out of the sky and out of the audience, they don't get used.

That said this is just an idiot with a laser pointer. Like I said. Stupid. But 14 years stupid? Not unless he caused an accident.

[nadinbrzezinski]

27. So you think we should all be allowed to shine these things into cockpits?

I said, and I will repeat this, CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATURE and lobby to lower the mandatory sentence.

I guess...

[SomethingFishy]

29. Yes Nadine that is what I think.

Thank you for putting those words into my mouth so eloquently.

Especially after I explained that I know way more about the safety of using lasers than most people on the planet.

Have a nice evening, and please, if you want to argue with someone find someone else. I'm not going to sit here and argue about something we already fucking agree on.

[nadinbrzezinski]

30. I am not arguing

I also suspect, that 14 years was NOT just for shining the laser.

I suspect there was a charge of interfering with police. and a few other charges. If you are that curious, I am not you can find the case in the county docket.

[Travis_0004]

34. The lazer was illegal to begin with

It exceeded legal power allowed.

He had a criminal record already, multiple probation violations, and was a gang member. I'm sure all that factored in.

If it was a 15 year old who thought it was funny, I would be fine with a very light sentence, but by 26 you should know better.

[nadinbrzezinski]

37. And just from having covered the legal system

as well, let me add a likely charge of interfering with a police officer, and likely with an EMS crew.

I will say this, lazy reporter. Especially if...they were there, they will gladly provide you with a copy of the indictment as well as the court complaint. Or maybe this is my county.

[jmowreader]

35. Try "potential to kill someone"

[oldhippie]

40. So how would you feel if he had .....

.... thrown acid at the pilot's eyes? It only has potential to blind him. Get a light sentence?

[Lost_Count]

47. So if he fired a few rounds at the chopper but missed...

No harm no foul?

[SomethingFishy]

48. Yeah thats exactly what I said

Congratulations.... you got me.

[Lost_Count]

50. Correct... That is what you said...

You guess blindness is what? Did the guy in the story blind someone?

[SomethingFishy]

51. So... The Republican tricks working well for you?

Take what I said out of the context of the discussion, make up some shit you think I was saying, then display your ignorance for all to see.

Nicely done.

Enjoy your day.

[Lost_Count]

52. Quoting you directly is a "Republican trick?"

[Hassin Bin Sober]

53. I though the same thing until I read the article.

Multiple convictions, multiple probation violations and gang banging.

Obviously jail isn't a deterrent to this punk. Only option is to keep him off the street as long as the law allows.

[SomethingFishy]

55. Thanks. I didn't go to the link and I should have..

Now 14 years seems reasonable... But not for the specific crime, for the specific offender...

I thought he was just some dumb kid goofing off...

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

4. A pretty dumbshit thing to do

[villager]

6. he should have started a war or crashed an economy instead! Then he'd be walking around free!

n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

19. 'xactly

pretty stupid thing to do, and it is dangerous to boot, but start a war and kiil\maim a few million, or crash the economy... you will be fine.

[villager]

21. It was definitely dumb. But when you compare his 14 year sentence for that, to sentences of, well,

"0," for illegal war launching, Wall Street money-laundering, and so much more...

...you can't help but start to ask a few questions.

Futile questions, no doubt. But still...

[nadinbrzezinski]

23. Why I like to compartmentilize as this point

as is I am so jaded anymore that nothing surprises me any longer.

[Nye Bevan]

28. So until Bush and some banksters go to prison, nobody should ever serve time for anything?

Even people who try to blind pilots in an attempt to crash their helicopters?

Is it a bad thing that people are thinking "holy shit, 14 years, I am never, ever going to do that shit"?

[villager]

31. Yes, because of this sentence, everyone is thinking "holy shit, I'd better not do____ "

Lovers of prisons, and excess sentences, such as yourself, always think that way of course.

[Nye Bevan]

32. I would support a general amnesty for all non-violent pot offenders.

And I am completely opposed to mandatory minimum sentences (with the exception of first-degree murder).

So I am not exactly a "lover of prisons and excess sentences". But I think in this case the sentence is reasonable, given the seriousness of the crime and the fact that the guy had a huge list of prior convictions.

[villager]

36. well, I'm glad to hear about your amnesty support

You may not be quite as unrelenting as I'd thought (I will cheerfully admit).

we don't really know how "huge" that list is -- the judge alludes to parole violations, but for what?

And he's a gang member, sure. But 14 years is too long. He will only become a better gang member with that long a stretch in the pen.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

54. And he'll be a better gang member with multiple short stretches in the pen.

I only hope he will be mellowed out at 40 years old when he gets out.

Seriously, who tries to crash aircraft? That's pretty fucked up.

[villager]

56. Well, if that's your recipe for "mellowing out" people...

...let's hope you're never next to a couch in a therapist's office, or behind a prescription pad!

[Hassin Bin Sober]

57. I only "hope" you don't teach a reading comprehension course.

See how that works? "Hope" is the operative phase here. Not "will" or "probably". But "hope" because, clearly, the idiot hasn't grown up by 26 years old.

Perhaps 40 will be the magic number for this dick-head (disclaimer: 40 years is not meant to be used as the age at which ALL idiots grow up. Just my observation that even the biggest asshole might grow up by middle age. By grow up I mean realize being a gang-banging asshole is no way to go through life. It happens)

[villager]

59. well, if "hoping" that extra-long stints in jail will "mellow" up-and-coming criminals out...

... I think the "comprehension" problem is at your end.

[geek tragedy]

9. good. trying to cause an aircraft to crash is a serious crime nt

[lumberjack_jeff]

12. The legal limit for laser pointers is 5 milliwatts.

Here's an example of a 5mW laser pointer.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Green-lased_palm_tree_(crop).jpg

You can easily buy green diode lasers in 10 watt sizes - 2000 times more powerful.

[Ghost in the Machine]

43. Link does't work... I found one that does & posted below......

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Green-lased_palm_tree.jpg

Peace,

Ghost

[lumberjack_jeff]

44. Thanks. n/t

[Texasgal]

16. Why do they sell these things anyway?

I mean, what is the point unless you want to drive your cat wild? LOL!

[one_voice]

25. Stupid thing to do...

I think 14 years is ridiculous. Some rapists don't get that kind of time.

[Logical]

26. Seemed way to long until I read about his priors. Makes sense. nt

[damnedifIknow]

33. 14 years?

[dem in texas]

38. Serious Problem in Dallas

Many incidents, some very serious. One recent incident, the pilot's eyes were burned by the laser beam. In Dallas, the flights to Love Field are going to increase this fall with the expiration of the Wright Amendment and many more jets will be flying directly over Dallas neighborhoods, a person shinning a laser beam is a crash waiting to happen. 14 years is not enough.

[Comrade Grumpy]

39. That sentence seems pretty steep. As if California didn't have enough people in prison.

Oh, wait, we have too many already. That's what those federal judges keep telling us.

[Jenoch]

41. Since this was a federal offense judged in a federal court,

this idiot gets to do all all 14 years.

[deathrind]

42. Wow...

14yrs is insane...I guess they gotta make up for reduction in arrest for marijana possession.

[wheniwasincongress]

45. The strong green ones

Are used in astronomy for pointing things out - you can see the light because of the dust in the air. I don't think the cheap, cat-toy-check-out ones are that strong. Are they?

[Fumesucker]

49. The green ones just look a lot brighter because the eye is more sensitive to green

Most of green ones commonly available are the same power as the red ones, under five milliwatts but the eye sees them much better than a red beam of the same power.

Remember this picture from Tahrir square?

?6