California man to serve 14 years in prison for shining laser at helicopter

A California man has been sentenced to 14 years in prison after he was caught shining a laser at a Fresno Police Department helicopter.

According to investigators, 26-year-old Clovis resident, Sergio Rodriguez, continuously shined a ‘high-powered’ laser pointer in the cockpit of the helicopter back in 2012. Upon police receiving reports of someone shining a laser at an emergency transport helicopter in Fresno, both Rodriguez and his 23-year-old girlfriend, Jennifer Lorraine Coleman, were arrested.

Following a three-day trial in December, the couple was convicted by a federal jury. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the laser that was used was apparently 13 times more powerful than the allowable emission level for hand-held lasers.

Coleman is set to be sentenced on May 12. She is currently facing a minimum of up to five years in prison, in addition to a $250,000 fine.

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– Antionette Latrese (@_ALatrese)