Dallas Man Sentenced to 13 Months in Federal Prison for Aiming Laser Pointer at a DPS Helicopter

DALLAS — Orlando Jose Chapa, 37, of Dallas, was sentenced this morning by U.S. District Judge Reed C. O’Connor to 13 months in federal prison following his guilty plea in November 2015 to indictment charging one count of aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft, announced U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.

Chapa, who is on bond, was ordered to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on March 24, 2016.

According to documents filed in the case, on or about May 30, 2015, in the Dallas Division of the Northern District of Texas, Chapa knowingly aimed the beam of a laser pointer at a Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) helicopter and at the flight path of that aircraft.  Chapa aimed the laser at the helicopter from his driveway as it was flying overhead.

The FBI, Texas DPS and the Dallas Police Department investigated.  Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Burns prosecuted the case.

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