Aaron Donaciano Camarillo-Morales, Laser Pointing at Aircraft, Oklahoma 2018

A 25-year-old man has pleaded guilty to pointing a laser at an Oklahoma City Police Department helicopter in a shocking crime that highlights the dangers of reckless behavior.

Aaron Donaciano Camarillo-Morales, a citizen of Mexico, was charged with pointing a laser at an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States. The crime occurred on September 18, 2018, when a green laser struck a police helicopter. The pilot had been temporarily blinded by the laser, which appeared to emanate from a silver van driven by Camarillo-Morales in the area of 29th and South Shields.

Camarillo-Morales pleaded guilty to the crime and admitted to directing the laser beam at the police helicopter. His conduct violated a federal statute that specifically prohibits pointing lasers at aircraft, which was enacted in 2012 to prevent pilots from losing control of their aircraft due to laser beams.

At sentencing, Camarillo-Morales faces up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release, and restitution to the Oklahoma City Police Department. He will be detained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service until the imposition of sentence, which is scheduled for November 15.

After he serves his sentence, Camarillo-Morales will be subject to deportation proceedings. The case is a result of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Transportation—Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Oklahoma City Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Travis D. Smith is prosecuting the case. Reference is made to court filings for further information.

Defendant: Aaron Donaciano Camarillo-Morales

Criminal Charges: Pointing a laser at an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States

City and State: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Exact Date: September 18, 2018

Sentence or Outcome: Up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release, and restitution to the Oklahoma City Police Department

Dollar Amounts: $250,000 fine

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