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Bakersfield man gets 2 years for aiming laser at helicopter

The Bakersfield Californian | Friday, Oct 10 2008 2:46 PM

Last Updated: Monday, Oct 13 2008 10:47 AM

A Bakersfield man was sentenced to two years in prison on Friday for shining a hand-held laser into the cockpit of a Sheriff’s Department helicopter.

Jared James Dooley, 28, pleaded guilty on July 18 to intentionally pointing a powerful green laser at the helicopter, according to a news release from the office of U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott. The Nov. 8 incident happened when the helicopter was flying 500 feet above ground level during a routine patrol.

The light disoriented the pilot, who pinpointed the laser as coming from Dooley’s residence, the news release said. A search warrant was served on Nov. 27 and two lasers were found, one in the residence and one in a pickup.

Dooley and his girlfriend, Kendra Christine Snow, 26, later admitted using a green laser on the night of the incident. Snow was scheduled for sentencing on Oct. 31.

They’re not the only ones facing the consequences of pointing lasers at helicopters.

Shortly after midnight on Thursday, Tyrone Green, 44, of Bakersfield, was arrested on suspicion of shining a hand-held laser at a sheriff's helicopter, deputies said. And last week, Scott Francis Kress, 49, of Bakersfield, was arrested and booked on suspicion of similar charges.