Hector Miranda-Mendoza appeared in federal court today for his initial hearing after prosecutors charged him with aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft, specifically a Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) helicopter above the skies of Portland.
According to the US Attorney’s Office, the incident, which occurred on the evening of September 27, put pilots and the public in serious danger, with US Attorney Scott E. Bradford emphasizing the reckless nature of the act: “Aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft endangers lives and is a federal crime.”
Miranda-Mendoza, 35, revealed to police that he had recently obtained the high-powered laser and was aware of its capabilities.
Believing the CBP craft was a drone, he shone the laser several times—a hazardous act because the bright light might induce temporary blindness or disorientation for pilots, potentially causing fatal events.
Using advanced mapping technologies aboard the helicopter, investigators traced the laser’s source to a Portland residence, linking it to Miranda-Mendoza.
The FBI’s Douglas A. Olson described the act as one that “endangered the lives of federal law enforcement officers” and emphasized the FBI’s commitment to vigorously prosecute anyone targeting federal agents, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
According to the United States Attorney’s Office, 29 defendants have been charged with various federal crimes related to their actions at the ICE building in Portland since June 13, including assaulting officers, depredation of government property, and failure to comply with official orders. In this case, a conviction for shining a laser pointer at an airplane could lead to a five-year federal jail sentence for the accused. However, as a component of the United States legal system, a criminal complaint is only an allegation, and the defendant is deemed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
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