A Colorado man pleaded guilty Monday to aiming a high-powered laser pointer at a Fresno County Sheriff’s Office helicopter, federal prosecutors said on Monday.

Martin Joseph Avila, 66, of Longmont, Colorado, admitted in court that he aimed the beam of a laser pointer at a sheriff’s helicopter on May 28, 2024, while it was on routine patrol, according to court documents and a statement from U.S. Attorney Eric Grant.

The laser’s output of 92.8 milliwatts was more than 18 times the legal limit for laser pointers, officials said.

The Federal Aviation Administration warns that laser exposure can cause visual impairment and poses a serious hazard to aircraft. In 2024, the FAA received 12,840 reports of laser strikes, with California reporting the highest number at 1,489 incidents.

Avila face

See Full Page