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Press Release

KC Man Pleads Guilty to Laser Strike

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Missouri

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Kansas City, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to aiming his laser pointer at a Kansas City, Mo, Police Department helicopter.

 

Jordon Clarence Rogers, 26, of Kansas City, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Maughmer to the charge contained in an Oct 29, 2014, superseding indictment.

 

By pleading guilty today, Rogers admitted that he aimed the beam of a laser pointer at a Kansas City, Mo., Police Department helicopter on Oct. 8, 2013. Rogers struck the helicopter three times with a green laser light. He twice hit the eye of one of the pilots, causing eye strain that lasted for hours after the incident.

 

Under federal statutes, Rogers is subject to a sentence of up to five years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

 

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian P. Casey. It was investigated by the FBI.

Updated September 8, 2016