A Colorado man has been charged with aiming a laser pointer at a Fresno County Sheriff’s helicopter, a crime that carries up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. (GV Wire File)
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A Colorado man has been charged with aiming a laser pointer at a Fresno County Sheriff’s Office helicopter, federal prosecutors said Wednesday.
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Martin Joseph Avila, 66, of Longmont, was arrested and ordered to appear in federal court in Fresno on April 16, 2025, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.
Between May 28 and 29, 2024, Avila allegedly pointed a laser at Eagle 1, a sheriff’s helicopter operating in Fresno County, according to an indictment.
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Federal aviation officials warn that laser strikes pose a serious risk to pilots by causing visual impairment.
Prosecutors said the Federal Aviation Administration received 12,840 reports of laser incidents in 2024, with California leading the nation at 1,489 cases.
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The FBI and the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. If convicted, Avila faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, prosecutors said.
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