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

Discussion in 'Blazers OT Forum' started by SlyPokerDog, Dec 13, 2010.

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  1. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

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    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.


    [​IMG]

    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
     
    SlyPokerDog, Dec 13, 2010
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  2. jlprk

    jlprk The ESPN mod is insane.

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    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.
     
    jlprk, Dec 14, 2010
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  3. BrianFromWA

    BrianFromWA Editor in Chief Staff Member Editor in Chief

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    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?
     
    Last edited: Dec 14, 2010
    BrianFromWA, Dec 14, 2010
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  4. MickZagger

    MickZagger Well-Known Member

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    One less ugly person off the streets.
     
    MickZagger, Dec 14, 2010
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  5. barfo

    barfo triggered obsessive commie pinko boomer maniac Staff Member Global Moderator

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    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, Dec 14, 2010
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  6. barfo

    barfo triggered obsessive commie pinko boomer maniac Staff Member Global Moderator

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

    barfo
     
    barfo, Dec 14, 2010
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  7. Paxil

    Paxil Active Member

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    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.
     
    Paxil, Dec 14, 2010
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  8. barfo

    barfo triggered obsessive commie pinko boomer maniac Staff Member Global Moderator

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    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
     
    barfo, Dec 14, 2010
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  9. Paxil

    Paxil Active Member

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    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.
     
    Paxil, Dec 14, 2010
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  10. barfo

    barfo triggered obsessive commie pinko boomer maniac Staff Member Global Moderator

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

    barfo
     
    barfo, Dec 14, 2010
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  11. BLAZER PROPHET

    BLAZER PROPHET Well-Known Member

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    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.
     
    BLAZER PROPHET, Dec 14, 2010
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  12. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

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    But he was one and a half football fields away, I doubt he could even see the guy's eyes.
     
    SlyPokerDog, Dec 14, 2010
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  13. BLAZER PROPHET

    BLAZER PROPHET Well-Known Member

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    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...
     
    BLAZER PROPHET, Dec 14, 2010
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  14. The_Lillard_King

    The_Lillard_King Westside

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    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.
     
    The_Lillard_King, Dec 14, 2010
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  15. BLAZER PROPHET

    BLAZER PROPHET Well-Known Member

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    I think judges should have been given some discretion with that measure.
     
    BLAZER PROPHET, Dec 14, 2010
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  16. SlyPokerDog

    SlyPokerDog Woof! Staff Member Administrator

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    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.
     
    SlyPokerDog, Dec 14, 2010
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  17. hasoos

    hasoos Well-Known Member

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    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.
     
    hasoos, Dec 14, 2010
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  18. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

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    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.
     
    Natebishop3, Dec 14, 2010
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  19. BrianFromWA

    BrianFromWA Editor in Chief Staff Member Editor in Chief

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    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.
     
    BrianFromWA, Dec 14, 2010
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  20. MARIS61

    MARIS61 Real American

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    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."
     
    MARIS61, Dec 14, 2010
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