Christian Palomino, Aiming Laser at Aircraft, California 2014

Oakland Man Sentenced for Aimming Laser at CHP Helicopter

In a bizarre incident, Christian Palomino, a 19-year-old Oakland resident, was sentenced to five years' probation, including six months of community confinement at a halfway house, for aiming a laser pointer at a California Highway Patrol (CHP) Helicopter.

On June 7, 2014, Palomino knowingly aimed the beam of a laser pointer at the CHP Helicopter while it was assisting the Oakland Police Department in its efforts to locate a domestic violence suspect. The lasing incident was captured by Palomino on his phone in a 'selfie' video. In the video, Palomino can be heard yelling at the helicopter pilot, 'Look at this laser!' A woman can be heard in the background admonishing Palomino, 'Don't do that! You know you could blind... You're going to go to jail if you do that. Don't do that!'

Palomino was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 28, 2014, for aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 39A.

The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Phyllis J. Hamilton, U.S. District Judge, who also imposed conditions of probation requiring Palomino to refrain from possessing a laser pointer and to perform 200 hours of community service, including educating people about the consequences of aiming laser pointers at aircraft.

Palomino was ordered to self-surrender to the halfway house on January 4, 2016.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian C. Lewis prosecuted this case with the assistance of Janice Pagsanjan and Melissa Dorton. This prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and the CHP.

The case serves as a reminder of the dangers of aiming laser pointers at aircraft. Law enforcement agencies take such incidents seriously and will prosecute individuals who engage in such behavior.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndca/pr/man-sentenced-5-years-probation-and-community-confinement-aiming-laser-california