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Santa Ana man to spend 15 months in prison after pointing a laser at a police helicopter

Posted on August 22, 2016 by Editor Posted in Courts, Crime, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Mario Deleon Lopez, a 35-year-old Santa Ana man, was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison on Monday for shining a laser pointer at an Orange County Sheriff’s Department helicopter, according to the O.C. Register.

Lopez pleaded guilty in March to aiming the laser pointer at deputies flying over a traffic accident in Santa Ana on Nov. 14. After the helicopter’s cockpit had been targeted by the green laser several times, the flight crew directed officers on the ground to Lopez’ location, in a Santa Ana backyard. He was arrested then released and eventually indicted. Continue reading→

Santa Ana man facing Federal charges of pointing a laser pointer at a police helicopter

Posted on March 3, 2016 by Editor Posted in Courts, Crime, FBI, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

It is hard to believe that a 35-year-old man would be inclined to aim a laser pointer at a police helicopter, but FBI agents arrested a man that age, Mario DeLeon Lopez, today and he was expected to be charged at a U.S. District Court in Santa Ana, with doing exactly that, according to the O.C. Register.

Lopez allegedly aimed his laser pointer at a police helicopter being operated by tactical flight deputies of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, on Nov. 14, 2015. The pilot of the helicopter reported being struck several times with a green laser that was bright enough to illuminate the cockpit.

The source of the laser was tracked to a suspect in the backyard of a Santa Ana residence by both Sheriff’s Deputies and members of the SAPD. Those officers arrested Lopez. He posted bail and was released while the Federal investigation continued. Continue reading→