Flashing laser pointer in deputy's eyes earns man 3 years in prison

[SlyPokerDog]

He's an idiot and he should be punished but 3 years?!? That seems excessive.

When Antom Strom cast a laser pointer toward Washington County sheriff's Deputy Glenn Howard, he chalked up a three-year prison sentence.

Strom pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree assault for shining a green laser pointer across a Tigard apartment parking lot in July, striking the deputy's line of sight from 423 feet away.

The 24-year-old has no criminal record, graduated from the Oregon Coast Culinary Institute in Coos Bay, and at the time of the incident, he worked at a Beaverton restaurant and shared an apartment with his girlfriend and 4-month-old son.

Deputy Howard attended Strom's sentencing hearing and testified that Strom compromised his eyesight and caused him to fear for his life.

His training has taught him that laser pointers are often mounted to pistols, Howard said, so during the seconds he was exposed to the laser's beam, he pulled his duty weapon and prepared to return fire.

http://www.oregonlive.com/tigard/in..._eyes_earns_tigard_man_3_years_in_prison.html

 

[jlprk]

Inconsistencies: So the man pays for the policeman's poor training... How often do police cause people to fear for their lives? ...He may have aimed at the body not the eyes, and from that distance, the light hit the whole body including the eyes...

Showing inconsistencies in the system won't change anything, of course. It's all about projection of power, not consistency or fairness. The bullies have evolved this complicated system over thousands of years.

 

[BrianFromWA]

I don't know that they're "bullies", unless you think that giving a guy 60 days for repeatedly raping a 7 year old until she was 11 is a "bully" move. Or maybe it's just the non-whackjobs that are bullies?

In this case, a guy shoots a laser that causes retinal scarring and perhaps blindness later...what's the sentence that Judge jlprk would've given? And what's a cook doing with an industrial-grade green laser (it's not just a "pointer", folks) messing with a cop by flashing it in his eyes?

For the lawyers in here, does a judge have discretion to split the difference in sentencing a plea-bargain? Or do they have to choose between the defense's recommendation of "probation" and the prosecution's "3 years" recommendation?

 

[MickZagger]

One less ugly person off the streets.

 

[barfo]

And what's a cook doing with an industrial-grade green laser (it's not just a "pointer", folks)

That part isn't so clear to me. The DA described it as an industrial grade laser, but the story refers to it repeatedly as a laser pointer, and the defense attorney says it was inexpensive and he bought it online.

barfo

 

[barfo]

One less ugly person off the streets.

I wouldn't describe him as less ugly, but it is charitable of you to do so.

barfo

 

[Paxil]

The defense attorney says it was inexpensive and he bought it online.

Defensive attorneys get paid to say things like that... but if he wanted the cat laser toy he would have just picked one up at Fred Meyer.

 

[barfo]

Defensive attorneys get paid to say things like that... but if he wanted the cat laser toy he would have just picked one up at Fred Meyer.

DA's are paid to say things like "industrial grade laser", though.

And lots of people buy stuff online that they could buy in person.

I've got a green laser pointer, it is pretty bright and I doubt you could buy one like it at Freddy's - but it is nevertheless just a laser pointer.

There's not really any such thing as an "industrial grade laser pointer". It is either a laser pointer or a laser.

barfo

 

[Paxil]

DA's are paid to say things like "industrial grade laser", though.

And lots of people buy stuff online that they could buy in person.

I've got a green laser pointer, it is pretty bright and I doubt you could buy one like it at Freddy's - but it is nevertheless just a laser pointer.

There's not really any such thing as an "industrial grade laser pointer". It is either a laser pointer or a laser.

barfo

I would imagine he will be out in a month. Bottom line though... don't interfere with police officers trying to do their job. Nothing good will come from it.

 

[barfo]

I would imagine he will be out in a month. Bottom line though... don't interfere with police officers trying to do their job. Nothing good will come from it.

Don't even interfere with them trying to eat donuts.

barfo

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

The kid used an industrial grade laser (yes, Virginia, criminal defense attorneys lie as much as the ACLU) and shone it in the policeman's eyes as if it were a gun laser.

Now that's a bright thing to do. It's a form of assault. Still, three years seems a bit harsh. He has the looks of someone who'd be very, ahem, popular in prison. Heh, good luck, pal.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

The kid used an industrial grade laser (yes, Virginia, criminal defense attorneys lie as much as the ACLU) and shone it in the policeman's eyes as if it were a gun laser.

Now that's a bright thing to do. It's a form of assault. Still, three years seems a bit harsh. He has the looks of someone who'd be very, ahem, popular in prison. Heh, good luck, pal.

But he was one and a half football fields away, I doubt he could even see the guy's eyes.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

But he was one and a half football fields away, I doubt he could even see the guy's eyes.

OK, that's a point. However, a jury found that he was targeting the policeman. That's enough for me.

He'll need to get used to a new sound- fap, fap, fap...

 

[The_Lillard_King]

If you wonder how he gets a sentence like this, simply look to the voters of Oregon. Measure 11 was easily passed mandating prison sentences for people who cause injury to others using a weapon. This is what the citizens want.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

If you wonder how he gets a sentence like this, simply look to the voters of Oregon. Measure 11 was easily passed mandating prison sentences for people who cause injury to others using a weapon. This is what the citizens want.

I think judges should have been given some discretion with that measure.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I think judges should have been given some discretion with that measure.

Read the entire article, they did take it out of Measure 11 guidelines, they could have given him probation. Personally, considering that he has a job and a family they should have made him report to county jail on his days off for a year. Putting him in the state prison system for this seems wrong.

 

[hasoos]

Read the entire article, they did take it out of Measure 11 guidelines, they could have given him probation. Personally, considering that he has a job and a family they should have made him report to county jail on his days off for a year. Putting him in the state prison system for this seems wrong.

Ya think? Average cost of incarceration of a prisoner, no matter what their offense, the cost is approximately $28K a year to fund their incarceration. So now because some deputy got his feelings hurt, he is not only going to ruin this guys life, his families life, but he is going to force us to pay about $84k in costs to put this guy away, who is obviously not a danger to anybody but cats.

 

[Natebishop3]

Laser pointers are generally red.

Green lasers are generally used for guns because they're more powerful. Green lasers are actually more dangerous than red if shone into your eyes.

Pointing a laser of any color at a cop is just asinine. They aren't expensive though. I can get a laser for a gun at a fairly affordable price.

 

[BrianFromWA]

I don't expect that this guy would know the difference vis-a-vis effects of a 5mW laser (a "pointer") and one that's significantly higher (150mW is the largest I could find on a quick online search) -- like one that can burn retinas at 150 yards.

That's why I asked the question about ability to assign punishment -- does it have to be one or the other in a plea-bargain, or can he, say, assign weekend jailing for 2 years or something.

While I don't think that this is worth 80k to the good citizens of Oregon, as the saying goes, the stupid shall be punished. And this dude qualifies.

 

[MARIS61]

Cop was half blind already:

In the short term, the incident resulted in a stronger corrective lens prescription for Howard's left eye, but his doctor said his vision may deteriorate further.

Clearly, they pummelled him from the get-go because it's an abnormally cowardly, over-the-top-emotionally cop.

If it happened to you they would call it a civil case and advise you to see a lawyer. NO CHARGES FILED.

Here's why you don't want a public defender:

Strom's attorney, public defender Jesse Merrithew,...said in court "it's tough for us to deny the assaultive nature" of Strom's conduct with the laser. Later, he said he believed Strom's chances of conviction at a trial were "extraordinarily high."

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I don't expect that this guy would know the difference vis-a-vis effects of a 5mW laser (a "pointer") and one that's significantly higher (150mW is the largest I could find on a quick online search) -- like one that can burn retinas at 150 yards.

That's why I asked the question about ability to assign punishment -- does it have to be one or the other in a plea-bargain, or can he, say, assign weekend jailing for 2 years or something.

While I don't think that this is worth 80k to the good citizens of Oregon, as the saying goes, the stupid shall be punished. And this dude qualifies.

This is one of those cases where an eye for an eye is the correct punishment.

 

[MARIS61]

Both green and red gun lasers at this company are 5mw. No mention of danger to eyes. The green would be useless in my area, as operating temperature range is only 40-100 farenheit.

http://www.lasermax.com/cat_info.php?id=10

 

[maxiep]

I wonder if this guy will become friends with Frylor?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

I wonder if this guy will become friends with Frylor?

Wow, now there is an Oregonlive legend!

 

[jlprk]

NBA referees call fouls differently for stars. Judges throw the book at anyone who makes a policeman mad.

It's all done quite openly. Everyone hates it but no one can fight it. Fear rules. Some judges believe in it; the other judges are afraid to buck it.

Stern loves it. He tells the refs who to watch and who to let go.